Guam national esports team returns from major world competition trip to Middle East

By Jacqueline Guzman - Guam Daily Post - February 17, 2025

The Guam national esports team has just returned from the International Esports Federation 2024 World Esports Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where they participated in their first-ever qualification for the global Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Tournament.

The team returned from Riyadh from IESF 2024 which took place Nov. 12-15. The tournament brought together 16 elite teams from across the globe to vie for the $160,000 prize pool, cementing the IESF World Esports Championship as a premier global event in esports.

Guam’s finest Mobile Legends: Bang Bang players competed on the world stage, marking Guam's debut at a major international esports tournament.

“This was a huge milestone for Guam as this was our first time to make it to the world championship,” said Gary Encarnacion, representative of Guam Esports Federation, Marianas Esports League and organizer of Guam’s journey to the IESF Championship. “Our players have shown immense dedication and skill, and we’re proud to see them represent Guam in front of a global audience.”

The team Guam players are Rei Sarmiento, in-game name Kai; John Lascuna, in-game name Secret; team captain Jonathan Silvestre, in-game name JI3S; and Hanz Ramos, in-game name Slopezii. The coach was Jermain Jimenez. Encarnacion traveled with the other named players and coach to Riyadh.

Encarnacion explained that esports is a billion-dollar-a-year industry, and although it hasn’t reached that level yet on Guam, it is definitely growing. “Guam is a gaming island,” he said. “100%!”

The industry is getting bigger.

“It's just getting bigger and bigger every year. The Olympics just recently announced that esports will be part of the actual Olympics, and we're excited to be a part of that as well,” said Encarnacion. “We’re looking forward to just bringing these guys to that next level, alongside with the coaches, the analysts and those who support us.”

Team captain Silvestre said, “This is the first time any of us has ever represented. I think a couple years back when we first started playing, we never thought that we would be representing our island, our island home,” he said.

Silvestre explained that when playing on a global level there are a lot of differences.

“Normally, we play just like as friends, as a team, just like having fun, we're trying to win. But over there we're dealing with connection issues. We're dealing with communication issues between the team, where we have to strategize beforehand, what hero we have to use, what hero does the other team want to use, … what info we have on each other and the other team. … So it's really a mental game when you're there,” he said.

Encarnacion explained that the team has been playing for several years.

“They watched the world. I mean, literally, they watched the professional leagues in the Philippines and in Indonesia, which are two big countries, playing the same game. And these guys went against their idols on the first day of the competition,” he said. “The same people they watch on TV were the same team they had to face on our first game. So, the boys really were shaken.”

Ramos, a player, explained that one of his idols, a player known as The Jungler, played for the enemy team. His real name is Albert.

“I used to idolize him before also, so getting to play with him, at first, I thought, ‘Am I really going up against this guy?’ Because I used to just watch him,” Ramos said. “His main hero is my main hero right now. So having that experience to go up against him and potentially beat him was very thrilling. I really looked forward to it. We eventually we fell short, but it was a great experience to go up against him.”

The game has been around since 2016 and is now the most popular esports game on the market.

The Guam team will travel in February to another country for another tournament where a women’s team from Guam will also compete.

Ramos has some advice for newcomers to the game.

“Playing games does sound like a lot of fun, but it does take a lot of responsibility at the end of the day. Your grades do come first. We did have to focus on getting our schedules aligned with school before we actually had to fly out,” he said. “Responsibility is a big part of playing the game. There's responsibility, discipline, patience, and you also need to be coachable. You need to be willing to get along with others, willing to listen to advice, even though sometimes you don't want to hear it. It's what's best for you and for the team. So that’s it, if you are wanting to become an esports player. And also, have fun.”