About three weeks ago, RRQ announced the hunt for fresh talents across Southeast Asia for their upcoming Honor of Kings squad. Speculation ran wild, with potential signings shrouded in secrecy until yesterday when they unveiled their unexpected roster, much to the delight of fans.
Through their official website, RRQ revealed that their Honor of Kings team would feature a mix of Malaysian and Indonesian players. Representing Malaysia are Dylan “Jia” Ying Jie and Peh “Bai” Ding Qian, who will take on the farm laner and jungler roles. The rest of them are comprised of Indonesian underdogs Haidar “Jesterf” Aliyafi, Naufal “Nightmare” Kinandana, Zakki “663” Maulana, and Gradiano “Orpheus” Valendy.
Intriguingly, Orpheus stands out as potentially the oldest competitor in the SEA HoK circuit at 30 years old. Although he had prior experience in esports as Geek Fam’s MLBB team manager from 2022 to 2024, this marks his debut as a professional player.
On the tactical front, RRQ has secured the expertise of former Stalwart Esports and Team Falcons coach Deng “Xishuai” Qian, alongside Malaysian manager Calvin “Shadowiu” Lee Man Fung. The former have been heavily talked about for his brief tenure in Saudi Arabia, helping the Falcons in securing a spot for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2024.
The announcement also confirmed RRQ as a franchise partner in HoK esports scene, signaling their likely involvement in the rumored franchise league. This move was somewhat expected following RRQ’s exit from Moonton’s exclusive partnership program, which main rules had restricted their participation in rival mobile MOBA circuits.
RRQ’s HoK team is set to make its major debut at Invitational Season 2 2024 in Malaysia later this month. They will compete against international contenders aiming for a coveted spot in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next month.
