PUTRAJAYA: DianFengYaoGuai (DFYG) made history by becoming the first team from China to win a series in an international tournament at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) M6 World Championships' Wild Card stage on Thursday.
DFYG started their campaign to qualify for the Swiss stage on the right note by downing Laos' Niightmare Esports 2-1 for their first victory in Group A at the IOI Grand Exhibition and Convention Centre.
Two Malaysians, Lu "Sasa" Khai Bean and Saw "Loongs" Kee Loong, inspired DFYG's history-making feat.
Khai Bean has some serious pedigree as a player, becoming the first Malaysian to win the Mid Season Cup.
He achieved the feat with ONIC Esports - before they rebranded as Fnatic ONIC - in 2019.
Khai Bean is also the first player to win the MLBB Professional League (MPL) in two regions. He won Season 3 of MPL Indonesia with ONIC in 2019 and Season 8 of MPL Malaysia with Team SMG in 2021.
"I'm very proud of my team, they have made a new story for MLBB in China. I hope this won't be our last win.
"What Chinese players lack is strategy and gameplay, so that is what I have been working on with them.
"It is also difficult to get quality practice matches due to us being in China," Khai Bean said.
Kee Loong, who won Season 8 of MPL Malaysia with Khai Bean, echoes his colleague's sentiments.
"This is a good achievement for this team, but we want to progress to the Swiss stage.
"Chinese players have the mechanical skill to compete with anyone, but what we have been working on is in-game discipline," Kee Loong said.
Both players have played at the M series World Championships before, and they aim to guide DFYG to the main show.