KUALA LUMPUR: Professional esports organisation Mineski on Saturday emerged as the grand champions of the Dota 2 Asian Championships 2018, taking home US$370,000 (RM1.43 million).
The Southeast Asian team defeated China's LGD Gaming in a thrilling grand final that was played in front of a sold-out crowd at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China.
The outfit is made up of two Malaysians, namely Chai Yee Fung, popularly known as Mushi, and Kam Boon Seng, who goes by the pseudonym Moon.
They are joined by Daryl "iceiceice" Koh from Singapore, Anucha "Jabz" Jirawong from Thailand and Michael "ninjaboogie" Ross Jr. from the Philippines.
Chai, who has already earned more than RM3.5 million prior to this tournament, is a role model for many esports fans and is widely regarded as the "Lee Chong Wei" of Dota 2.
In January, Mineski announced its partnership with AirAsia as a special sponsor and exclusive airline partner in the airline's first venture into esports.
The squad's maiden major championship win puts them back in the running to qualify for The International Dota 2 tournament at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, Canada, on Aug 20.
This is not the first time Malaysian cyber athletes found success in the Dota 2 pro circuit.
Last year's edition of The International, which boasted a total prize pool of RM96.7 million, saw Malaysian Dota 2 player, Tue Soon Chuan, better known as Ah Fu, winning RM11.2 million with his team LGD.Forever Young.
The year before, Malaysia-based team Fnatic created history by winning RM5.6 million after securing fourth place.
And in 2013, Malaysia's homegrown team Orange Esports clinched third place at The International, a historic feat that helped cement esports firmly in Malaysia's mainstream pop culture.
For the uninitiated, Dota 2 is a multiplayer online video game in which two teams of five players compete to collectively destroy a large structure defended by the opposing team, known as the "Ancient" while defending their own.