Cover-Credits:
The showmatch during the Realme Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Cup (RMC) Season 6 finals featured the North American (NA) team BloodThirstyKings (BTK) and the Gold Medalist Blacklist International Sibol squad. However, Monster Anarchy’s amateur EXP laner, Kier “Ichiji” Sambajon stole the spotlight with his exceptional skills as the team’s EXP laner. The young prodigy spearheaded BTK into a 3-2 victory over Blacklist International’s Sibol squad, taking many fans by surprise. The NA team’s captain Michael "MobaZane" Cosgun even lauded Ichiji as better than the team’s main EXP Laner Victor and is considering recruiting the young blood to join BTK.
Ichiji recieved praise from various MLBB personalities
Monster Anarchy’s 6th man definitely left a good impression in the MLBB community in the RMC Season 6 finals showmatch. The amateur player was recruited at the last minute due to BTK’s Victor not being able to join the team for the exhibition match against Blacklist International’s Sibol squad.
RSG Philippines’ (PH) Elyson "Wrecker" Edouard Caranza stated that he sees Ichiji’s Esmeralda gameplay as similar to Nathanael “Nathz” Estrologo, the Grand Finals MVP (most valuable player) of the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) PH Season 9. “He hasn’t been able to practice with them [BTK] yet. It’s like random, ‘we’re missing one, let’s invite another one.’ Something like that happened but look at the outcome, he carried. His playstyle is like Nathzz on Esme[ralda],” he said.
Nexplay EVOS’ former coach Setsuna “Akosi Dogie” Ignacio considers this a big opportunity for Ichiji to be discovered by professional MLBB teams. “That’s a good exposure, very good for the kid and a game changer. There are a lot of people watching. Like, this is [against the] Sibol team,” the former coach said.
Dogie added that this may be a threat to pro players who are not striving to improve as they can easily be replaced by amateurs who deserve the spotlight. “This may be a wake up call for those in the pro scene who are being too lazy, ‘Oy, I can replace you!’,” he said.
BTK’s MobaZane also compared Ichiji to the team’s main EXP Laner. While discussing the amateur player’s performance with Dogie, the NA team captain stated “That’s why we have him. He is so much better [than Victor]. I told him, ‘next stop, New York’.”
It will be interesting to see if Ichiji will get recruited by professional MLBB teams or possibly join the BTK squad in the future.
