26-year-old former van driver Mark Ferry “Dokmen” Nazar, along with his Gamelab Team, proved that esports champions are made not born after they emerged winners of Smart GIGA Arena Street League Tournament for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) last December. This allowed them to take home a cash prize of PHP 50,000.
Game-changing Game
Dokmen had been a regular van driver for years before he took a chance to pursue his love and passion for gaming.
“Throughout my gaming journey, I have tried my hand at a variety of different games, but ultimately I found that Mobile Legends is the one for me,” said Dokmen, who then spent years learning the game and training to be the best MLBB player in the country.
He is among the first who played the game, which gave him a huge advantage in honing his skills and mastering the game. He also had the opportunity to compete for two seasons in the prestigious Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League – Philippines.
Not a Walk in the Park
It wasn’t a walk in the park for Dokmen and his teammates at the beginning of their gaming journey. They found it consistently difficult to close out games and secure victory despite being a formidable team even when they were just starting.
“After losing a game, we review it to identify where we went wrong and know what adjustments we should make for the next game. We are committed to learn and win as a team. This approach has helped me and my team to bounce back from defeats and come back stronger,” said Dokmen.
“We are so proud to witness the journey and growth of Dokmen as an Mobile Legends Player. He and his Gamelab Team have proven that through dedication and hard work, nothing is impossible, and you can be the best. Dokmen’s story is what Smart GIGA Arena is all about, empowering mobile gamers by allowing them and giving them opportunities to compete regularly in leagues and tournaments. So, expect better, bigger, and bolder Smart GIGA Arena events this 2023.”
Melvin C. Nubla, Smart FVP and Group Head of Go-To Market and Subscriber Management
Smart GIGA Arena for Every Mobile Gamer
The Street League tournament was held on the Smart GIGA Arena platform at gigaarena.smart. It is in line with the company’s support for Philippine esports to cultivate the passion, skill, and talent of Filipino gamers.
Smart GIGA Arena is the country’s first all-in-one esports platform for Filipino mobile gamers. It is open to all Smart and TNT customers and lets users match up with fellow players to compete in daily, weekly, and monthly tournaments for prestige and cash prizes.
Additionally, the platform comes with features that allow mobile gamers to set up their own tournaments, stream live competitions, play arcade games, purchase e-load, and link their e-wallet to secure their tournament winnings via GigaPay with Maya, to name a few.
Smart also supports gamers with data offers and services like GIGA Games that enable you to play your favorite games like MLBB. You can register for GIGA Game by logging into the GigaLIfe App or by dialing *123#.
Advocate for Safer Online Spaces
Alongside its support for esports, the company is an advocate for safer online spaces within the Philippine gaming community.
As part of this advocacy and in time for the global celebration of Safer Internet Day this February, Smart and PLDT are launching a program consisting of a series of conversations on internet safety among gaming industry experts and advocates through Better Today PH.
To continue enjoying the best gaming experiences powered by Smart, you are encouraged to register your Smart and TNT SIM card here.
Know more about how Smart enables you to level up your gameplay by visiting the website.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
