Pinoy TFT Macao Open rep MarvelWizardKH: Good balance is key

Freshly graduated from De La Salle University, MarvelWizardKH represented the Philippines in the international Teamfight Tactics stage during the TFT Macao Open last December 2024. Esports Inquirer sat down with him to discuss his experience, beginnings, and more.

Can you summarize your journey getting to the TFT Macao Open?

Okay, I’ve been playing [Teamfight Tactics] since set one, that was since launch, that’s crazy. On round two I got to play in the [TFT Macao Open] main stage and that was a really amazing experience. The guy I watched win Worlds, [KC Double], is now in my lobby, in the main stage with another Worlds player, Rereplay, that I also look up to.

The journey of like being up there and facing all of them is just like, “this can’t be real.” I just got starstruck, at the same time I got stunned. And then on top of that, I got a first [place] in that lobby and that was amazing. [It was] really fun meeting the people here, really fun environment, and all the hours of playing TFT finally shown.

READ: Pinoy bets in 2024 TFT Macao Open strive to round of 64

When did this aspiration of “I wanna play competitively” begin?

Oh, I was like, Grade 7, Grade 8? I always wanted to [compete]. I was watching Twitch a lot, and I just wanted to be [like those players]. When I got introduced to League of Legends, I was also into CS:GO, and then I heard people are like, “You can earn money from this?” That’s when it hit me. “Oh, I want to do this.”

I didn’t see myself playing [at the TFT Macao Open] because I didn’t play Set 8 or 9 that much. I just came back for Set 10 for fun because they brought back the mechanic, the Chosen headliner. I did pretty well, so like, “Oh, let me try this again. Let me push again for competitive.” And now here I am.

How did you feel when it sank in that you’re going to be in the same lobby as these big TFT players?

I was amazed. To me, I was able to easily just meet them, get a picture with them – I was like wow. In terms of like the play, I definitely felt pressure, like “I have to do well.” I don’t want to waste the effort [and] the money spent here so I wanted to really do well, but like honestly this place is an experience.

How do you feel about your performance after exiting at top 256?

I think I did well overall, but I feel like my play is still not as high as the other players. I think [Chinese players] are very good. They really have a very different playstyle, and I think there’s a lot to learn there.

What else do you want to say about your experience at TMO as a competitor?

Really fun. I wish there was more of these. It’s fun, It’s really fun. I like walking around, I love going to conventions, so this is like a combination of gaming, TFT, and the conventions. So it’s amazing. If you have a chance to go here, you should go here.

What about your experience as a spectator?

I’m hyped for the final game. The final lobby is always good. Every TFT event, I always watch [it]. Worlds, another big tournament. Las Vegas – I really wanted to go. It’s fun, I met lots of people, everyone’s so friendly so nice. The aesthetic, the design, the cosplayers – very good.

Who were the three personalities you were most excited to meet?

First one is [Michael “k3soju” Zhang]. Of course Soju’s– I think everyone knows Soju. He’s cool, it’s hard to get a picture with him. But when I hear him talk, like, oooh, he sounds great. I think his mic doesn’t do him justice. His real voice is amazing.

Number two, meeting [Allen Raye “OAS ARaye” Vibar], like the whole PH community because we don’t really see each other in real life, so seeing them here, hanging out with them, that was fun. That would be an amazing memory.

And then number three, the [OfflineTV] gang. I got a bunch of their signed stuff here. I watched them way before TFT. So now I’m in an event where I can see them? That’s crazy. That’s awesome. Like, it feels like that shows I’ve gone a long way.

How did you prepare for TFT Macao Open?

I played a lot of TFT, of course. I played nonstop. I played, like, 10 games minimum a day, so that’s like 10 hours, basically, of nonstop TFT. When I’m not playing TFT, I’m watching TFT and looking at stats as well. We did lots of scrims with the players here, and I learned a bunch of new stuff that I don’t think I would have learned if I was just playing solo queue.

How did you get here?

When this event was announced, I already decided I wanted to go here regardless, even if I didn’t get the ticket or the competitor pass. So, we booked our hotel really early, we booked like July [2024].

The [plane] ticket was like around 11,000-12,000 pesos, and then the hotel is like 26,000 divided by two because I’m sharing with someone. So, overall, it’s 20,000-30,000 pesos. I think the money spent… I will see it as an experience and a learning of what it’s like to be in that stage so I can better prepare myself for the future when I play in another stage again.

If you had three wishes, what would you use them on?

I’m down to just win, you know. I’m down to win an Open or Worlds. I’m down to get signed to a team because, I mean, yeah, I don’t know how TFT or how orgs react to TFT, so I don’t know how that works. But I’m down for a team, sure—sponsorships, yeah.

So, that’s probably one: winning the high roll in the game. Two: probably getting a cool esports team. Three: maybe that could lead to something like a streamer thing for TFT, where people can learn from my playstyle.

Did you tell your friends you were competing?

Yes! They were like, “Whoa!” But the sad thing is they don’t really understand TFT, but they love esports – they love Valorant, CS:GO, League. So, when they saw me on stage—because I’m thankful and happy that at least I got to play on the main stage—they were like, “Oh, you got this!” They watched my first game where I got first, and they were like, “Oh, let’s go!” I got so many messages—”Congrats, congrats!”—even though they didn’t know that’s not the only game. But yeah, I got lots of happy messages, some hypemen. So it was great; they were happy. They were proud as well,

When you’re not MarvelRivalsKH on TFT, what are you up to?

I just graduated, actually, last October. I studied Marketing at DLSU. [I’m a full-time TFT player] at the moment, I’m taking a break after school – [TFT Macao Open] is part of the break.

What would you say to students who are also aspiring competitors?

For me, you just have to have good balance. Finish your school stuff, then you can focus on playing the game you like. Time management is very important. It’s important to finish school. Don’t drop out for TFT because you never know, you might just low roll, so it’s very important. For me, I was lucky that I could do both. So yeah, I’d say time management: perfect that, and you can do a lot of stuff.

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