How Did These Esports Champs Beat the Odds?

In PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, it’s all about sticking together.

“Being a professional gamer as a woman feels like defying the expectations of the entire world,” says Vivi Indrawaty (aka BTR Vivian), captain of the all-women Indonesian esports team Bigetron Era.

Her team is on an impressive winning streak, with an unbroken run of first-place victories in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournaments since 2021, including a gold for Indonesia at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

But the team’s biggest challenge is off the battlefield: the fight for recognition in the world of professional esports. Although women now make up nearly half of the global gaming community, their representation in esports is still burgeoning, and prize money in women’s leagues is a fraction of what’s up for grabs in men’s leagues.

Bigetron Ace, an all-women team competing in PUBG Mobile tournaments, has also been rising in the ranks.

“In some games, we’ve faced male teams or defeated them, proving we can win in a mixed-gender tournament,” says Meutia Maharani (aka BTR Mute), who has won six PUBG Mobile championships since her debut in 2019.

Here’s a look at how Era and Ace are changing the face of esports.

Being a professional gamer as a woman feels like defying the expectations of the entire world.

Make every player count

“What I love about MLBB is the emphasis on teamwork,” Vivian says. With its fierce fights between teams of five, this MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) is now one of the most-watched games globally, clocking 530 million viewer-hours in 2023.

Victory requires thinking strategically about the game’s different roles and play styles: You can be a roamer, moving around the map to assist various team members. Get up close and personal as the sturdy fighter Balmond, or become a mighty markswoman like Miya, doling out sustained damage from a distance. A balanced team composition is key to success.

Conversely, competitive PUBG Mobile is much more open-ended.

“There are no predefined roles,” Mute says. “Our gameplay in each tournament is unpredictable—we’re constantly changing our strategy.”

According to Mute, that can require experimenting and, sometimes, losing the battle. “Many women’s teams disband after not winning once or twice. Don’t give up so easily,” she adds.

Give it everything

Like her Era teammates, Vivian stepped away from a “safer” job as a graphics engineer to pursue esports full time.

“Starting out as a pro player meant dealing with a lot of uncertainties,” she says. “Most pro players are men, and there’s a common perception girls aren’t as skilled as male players.”

Vivian had to beat hundreds of other hopefuls for a place in the MLBB leagues. She eventually earned a full-time spot with Era: “I stayed because I love the game. I didn’t want to just go halfway.”

That level of perseverance is rare, according to Era’s coach Tasia Lestari, Indonesia’s first woman MLBB coach.

“Winning involves listening to others, self-evaluation, and hard work—not everyone is ready for that,” Lestari says. “And it isn’t all about technical skills. You also have to be aware of your emotional responses during the match.”

In these high-stakes tournaments, emotional triggers come not only from the gaming environment but also the audience. Especially when directed at women players, unsolicited comments are all too often derogatory.

“During tournaments’ live streams, I’ve been called weak, or told that I only have looks, no skills, or worse,” Mute says. “I used those comments as motivation to improve my game skills and prove people should not underestimate me.”

In MLBB, PUBG Mobile, and many other games, players can mute, block, and report online harassment—but those features only do so much. Members of Era and Bigetron find support in each other.

“Our relationship is like that of sisters,” Mute says. “When we were all burnt out from tournaments, we went on a holiday together. We even joke around in the game. Making the experience fun is part of the journey.”

Push boundaries

The current generation is opening the door for the next. Two women’s teams were recently invited to join the PUBG Mobile National Championship playoffs, giving them a shot at the coveted PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL), which has typically been dominated by men’s teams.

And MLBB’s developer Moonton announced it will invite first- and second-place teams in the Women’s Seasonal League to the upcoming MLBB Development League Indonesia, which has only featured men’s teams until now.

Mute is optimistic for the future. “Our hope is for the PMSL to one day make the participation of a ladies’ team mandatory,” she says. “I’d really like for us to make our mark on an international stage.”

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