COMMENT: Esports pros need to realise they are role models

I thought it was absolutely rubbish that overnight, an esports organisation completely collapsed and vanished. Through no fault of the org, I might add.

Team OP, which had been scheduled to participate in the Mobile Legends Professional League Singapore (MPL SG), was forced to withdraw when four of its players were banned from competing.

They had made discriminatory remarks in a ranked match against Geek Fam players from Malaysia. While trash talking is usually normal, Team OP's players took it a tad too far with remarks made around religion and race.

While it's not to be condoned, it may not have mattered, had Geek Fam players not been streaming the match.

But they were, and as a result, matters blew up, and Team OP had to drop its players as well as withdraw from MPL SG when they were unable to find replacements in time.

And frankly, it's such a stupid thing to do.

Team OP were winning their ranked match, and didn't need to taunt their opponents. For those of you who don't play competitive game titles, ranked matches are played to determine (usually cumulative) in-game scores of players in multiplayer games.

Furthermore, it's likely they wouldn't have made those comments if they knew Geek Fam were streaming.

But that's a nonsense defence.

Team OP members shouldn't have done it even if they were not on stream. They signed up to be professionals, to be representatives of esports, role models even.

Let's also not forget that they were an "academy team", having been handpicked as examples of how amateurs can transition to become professional esports players.

You'd think they learnt the basics of being professional at their "school". If anything, this doesn't bode well for organisations looking into picking up amateur squads and getting into the action.

There are responsibilities that you accept when you decide to be an esports pro.

Heck, there are responsibilities when you accept a job offer. You don't go around behaving badly – companies will drop you in a heartbeat.

Being an esports pro means being in the public spotlight. And the worst thing is making these sort of remarks in a multi-racial and multi-culture region.

Then there's the fact that the oldest player in the squad, Jackie "PAAAA" Lee, at 28, chose to also participate instead of shutting it down right away. Having previously interviewed him, I'm terribly disappointed with his behaviour .

He basically threw away years of work. A two-year ban means he'll likely be past his prime even if he chooses to compete again.

And even if he's planning to go compete in another game, there's no guarantee he'll be able to perform as well, or if orgs will even risk picking him, up given the blemish on his record now.

That said, Team OP players aren't the only one that should have been punished – Geek Fam players also contributed insensitive remarks – similar to those made by Randall "Bush" Tay.

But the heavy punishments meted upon OP members don't seem to apply to Geek Fam.

If MOONTON Games wants its league to be held in the highest regard, the company needs to be fair in all its decisions.

That way, it will send a signal to all esports pros competing in MLBB to perform at their absolute best behaviours. Otherwise, it just means you shouldn't get caught.

Aloysius Low is an ex-CNET editor with more than 15 years of experience. He's really into cats and is currently reviewing products at canbuyornot.com

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