Time just zoomed by amidst all the epic esports action in 2023. There were tons of crazy moments that showcased the ups and downs in the Southeast Asian esports scene over the past year.
But hey, not every crazy thing that happened made it into the hall of fame for SEA esports fans. It wasn’t just MLBB taking over the mobile gaming kingdom; the Dota 2 and Valorant crews had their own wild rides. So, let’s rewind and dive into the top six moments that wowed us in SEA during 2023!
MPL ID Season 12 Smashes Records
MLBB Pro League Indo Season 12 was a rollercoaster, breaking all viewership records!
Onic Esports faced off Geek Fam in the grand finals, and it was wild. With a whopping 114m hours watched and 2.1m peak viewers, MPL ID S12 now holds the crown for the most-watched season ever. It’s the first time an MLBB regional league cracked the 100m hours mark—the first ever for a mobile esports.
Stats from Esports Charts shout out to Team RRQ in MPL ID S12. Their matches caused a massive spike in viewership. Three epic clashes had fans wowed as the former king of Indonesian MLBB faced Onic Esports, Bigetron Alpha, and the arch-rivals Evos Legends.
AP Bren vs Onic Esports: Clash of The Titans
The MLBB scene reached its peak at the M World Championship in the Philippines. The royal showdown saw Onic Esports from MPL ID faced AP Bren from MPL PH in the grand finals.
Despite Bren initially leading 3-1, Onic fought back hard to equalize. The Yellow Porcupines, led by Calvin “CW” Winata, Gilang “Sanz”, and Nicky “Kiboy” Fernando, gave the Hive a run for their money. In a nail-biting game 7, Bren capitalized on Onic’s mistake to seize a historic finish, becoming the first team to won M-Series twice.
The M5 tournament also rocked the charts, becoming the second most-watched international esports event of the year after League of Legends World 2023. Epic!
Dota 2 Pro Circuit Dilemma
In contrast to LoL and MLBB, Dota 2 suffered a significant blow in 2023: Majors had fans worried, The International 12 prize pool dropped, and whispers of no more Dota 2 Pro Circuit and Majors echoed worldwide.
Fans and experts are split. Some think third-party organizers benefit, while others worry about the impact on esports orgs and players used to Valve’s rules. SEA orgs are rethinking their game plan, with some disbanding and others leaving for greener pastures.
The fear? Top SEA talents might ditch their home turf, hurting the region’s competitiveness. We’ll have to wait and see how everyone adjusts to the change over time.
Talon Esports: Southeast Asia’s Dota 2 Golden Boy of 2023
Amid the ongoing issues in the Dota competitive scene, a shining light emerged as Talon Esports took the competition by storm, turning heads in the Five Majors and Riyadh Masters 2023.
Players like Rafli “Mikoto” Rahman and Nuengara “23savage” Teeramahanon are gaining recognition globally. And shortly after leaving Talon, these stars joined Aurora Esports from Serbia, while Mikoto’s taking a break, stirring up big team rumors. Talon proved, at that time, that SEA’s Dota 2 scene wasn’t as dead as everyone claimed it to be.
Paper Rex Nearly Took VCT Champions 2023
Paper Rex made waves in the esports Valorant scene in 2023, and if you’re a Valorant hardcore, you’ve probably heard the buzz!
Rocking a bold and high-risk style, the Singaporean boys earned cheers from fans worldwide and smoothly cruised into the grand finals of VCT Champions 2023 in the City of Angels, Los Angeles, USA.
Sure, their dreams hit a roadblock against Evil Geniuses in the final showdown, but the W Gamers are now the talk of the town, inspiring young players across SEA to take Valorant seriously. And even rivals like Bleed and Team SMG couldn’t help but give props to Paper Rex for their stellar performance this year.
Heading into the upcoming season, significant changes are on the horizon for the team. The departure of the talented duelist Wang “Jinggg” Jie, set to undergo national service, marks a key transition. In response to this shift, the team has strategically acquired Cahya “Monyet” Nugroho from Global Esports in India.
Jinggg Lives On in Valorant
While it’ll be some time before we witness Jinggg’s comeback in competitive Valorant, his influence echoes in the game’s latest agent, Iso, unveiled in late October. In a Riot developer blog, they shared the creative journey behind Iso, drawing inspiration from Jinggg’s aggressive playstyle and the unique cultural elements of China. This influence is unmistakable in Iso’s skill set and ultimate, crafted specifically for intense 1v1 battles.
Yet, incorporating Iso into a team strategy demands careful consideration, as the utilities he brings may not fit every situation. Currently, players lean towards Harbor and Gekko, recognizing their more versatile skill sets for both solo and party play.
