Malaysian Esports Star Clinches RM1.49 Million Prize, Says Mum's Blessings Made It Happen
After four heartbreaks in past grand finals, the team finally emerged victorious.
Cover image via Malaysian esports star Ahmad Khalish Rusyaidee "d4v41" Nordin and his Paper Rex (PRX) teammates secured an emotional victory at the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Masters in Toronto on Sunday, 19 June
PRX defeated European giants Fnatic 3-1 in the Grand Finals at the Enercare Centre in Toronto, Canada, securing their first-ever international title and sparking an emotional celebration. PRX is an esports team based in Singapore.
In addition to Khalish, victorious squad includes Indonesian Jason "f0rsakeN" Susanto, Singaporean Wang "Jinggg" Jing Jie, Russian Ilia "something" Petrov, and Filipino Patrick "PatMen" Mendoza. The 26-year-old and his teammates took home a hefty USD350,000 (RM1.49 million) in prize money.
SAYS spoke to Khalish about the team's big win, and here's what he had to say:
When asked about the biggest hurdle during their unstoppable run, Khalish, who hails from Kelantan, pointed to being far away from Malaysia and his family.
"The fact that we have to be far away from family and comfort food, and we have to commit to practising.
"Also, the commitment and the amount of hard work we've put in over the past few months, especially after failing to qualify for the Masters Bangkok," said the esports athlete.
The 26-year-old also spoke about their packed schedule and intense preparation leading up to Masters Toronto
"We've been working extra hours," said Khalish.
"Usually, we would practice maybe 1pm until 7pm, but this time we would go until like 10pm. It's long hours of preparation," he added.
He also revealed that his secret to the team's success lies in his parents' blessings
Khalish shared that he kept in constant touch with his mother throughout his time in Canada, and reminded others not to forget their parents when they succeed.
"I think some people forget to get in touch with their parents when they succeed," said Khalish.
"It's very important for me. It doesn't matter where I am, I will always contact my mother and make sure she's okay, and it makes me feel reassured," he added.
Lastly, he thanked his fans for supporting the team through thick and thin
"Thank you for supporting not just me, but also the team. We are beyond elated at the moment.
"I know you guys have waited four years for this moment, and so have we! Thank you so much. Hopefully, you'll support us at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025," he said, thanking the fans.
