“The match against Galaxy Phoenix felt like a final”: an interview with players from the Chinese team SAETA
One of the biggest surprises of the MLBB Women’s International 2026 was SAETA’s advancement to the playoffs—the Chinese squad defeated Falcons Vega and Virtus.pro MENA, and also managed to give the favorites, Galaxy Racer, a run for their money. After such a spectacular performance, the players shared their thoughts with us on the year’s biggest tournament.
You achieved the best result in the history of Chinese teams at the MWI, even though you weren’t able to advance to the semifinals. Are you satisfied with what your team was able to accomplish?
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.
Many teams immediately named Galaxy Phoenix as one of the tournament’s top favorites. Would you say they were the strongest opponent you faced at MWI?
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.
Many teams at this tournament spoke very highly of SAETA. Which teams and players made the biggest impression on you?
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.
How would you assess the development of the women’s MLBB scene in China over the past few years?
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.
That’s definitely true—our results are getting better and better. What do you think has been the main reason for this progress?
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.
Gleb Brekhov
