“The match against Galaxy Phoenix felt like a final”: an interview with players from the Chinese team SAETA

Jessica66: Yes, we’re very happy with the result. It’s the best result in Chinese history, and I’m proud of my teammates. One of us played today with a high fever, and despite being sick, she still took the field. 

In general, all my teammates played their best. I especially want to highlight Zhou, our jungler—she’s only been playing Mobile Legends for half a year, whereas many of our opponents have been training for years. And Zhou is already playing at the same level—I truly admire her.

The most memorable moment for us was the second quarterfinal game against Galaxy Phoenix, when we managed to take a map. For me personally, that match against GLP felt like the final. Yes, we ended up losing the series, but for me, it’s not just the result that matters—it’s also how we fought.

Gaigai: Galaxy Phoenix struck us as a very consistent team. They play with extreme confidence and discipline. If we’re talking about the opponents we faced in official matches, then yes, they were the strongest team. But if we’re talking about the tournament as a whole, I’d single out Team Vitality.

Namei: I was most impressed by Galaxy. They’re a very strong team, and I especially like their playing style. We’ve played against them many times in practice and understand just how strong they are.

Namei: We’re performing better every year. At MWI 2026, we made it to the playoffs, though it’s still a shame that we didn’t make a bigger breakthrough. I hope we’ll prove ourselves even stronger next year.

Jessica66: We believe there are two main reasons for this. First, Chinese gamers weren’t as familiar with Mobile Legends in the past, but over time, our understanding of the game and our skill level have grown significantly. As our understanding of the game has deepened, our results have improved as well.

Second, in our case, the support from SAETA ESPORTS—the entire organization, including the leadership, management, and owners—played a major role. Thanks to their financial, technical, and general support, we were able to participate in these tournaments. 

It was also important that we built mutual understanding and trust within the team—that’s exactly what helped us overcome challenges during preparation and become stronger and stronger. As the saying goes, “Minutes on stage—weeks of work behind the scenes.” The audience sees only a few games, but behind them lie hundreds and thousands of hours of training.

And finally, I especially want to acknowledge the support of my family. The path I’m on isn’t the most traditional one, and it’s only just becoming mainstream. But my parents are ready to support my endeavors, and that’s important to me.