I have been competing in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang long enough to know that the Land of Dawn can make you feel invincible. One moment you are landing a perfect combo in front of thousands of fans, and the next you are staring at a screen, wondering if you have enough energy to queue for one more ranked game. That contrast is exactly why the first-ever Esports World Cup docuseries, Level Up, hit me so hard. It premiered on Amazon's Prime Video on 6 June, and even in 2026, I still recommend it to every MLBB fan who thinks pro players live only inside highlight reels.
The series puts Sanford 'Sanford' Vinuya, Michelle 'Chell' Siswanto, and Cindy 'Cinny' Siswanto in the spotlight. On stage, they are idols. They are competitors who make difficult plays look easy. Off stage, they are people. They face grief, family pressure, financial responsibility, and the very real fear of letting an entire country down. That is the part of esports that rarely trends, but it is the part that keeps our scene human.
Sanford's story is the one that made me pause. He is a prodigy from Team Liquid Philippines, and months before competing in the MLBB Mid Season Cup at EWC 24, his father suffered a massive stroke. Sanford became the primary breadwinner for his family. Imagine that. You are preparing for one of the biggest mid-year MLBB tournaments in the world, and your mind is split between draft strategies, scrim schedules, hospital bills, and family duties. He still competed. He still carried the pressure of winning for his country. In Level Up, he says he wants the world to know that no matter how competitive tournaments are, players are still people facing real-life challenges. That line stuck with me because it is true for so many of us.
Then there are Chell and Cinny from Team Vitality. These Indonesian sisters arrived in Riyadh for the MLBB Women's Invitational at EWC 24 and lost their grandfather the same day. Let that sink in. They had to muster courage while grieving. They still competed for their country. I cannot imagine locking in for a professional match with that weight on my heart, but they did it. For them, being part of Level Up is not just about exposure. It is representation. It is proof that female players deserve a spotlight and that women in the gaming community face their own struggles and challenges.
Cinny said she hopes fans stay passionate about their love for the game and esports, and if they truly love this path, they should pursue it wholeheartedly for themselves and the people they love. Chell added that it is a meaningful opportunity to represent women in gaming who share the same struggles, and that female players also deserve a spotlight. Those words are not just PR lines. They are a challenge to the rest of us to make the scene more inclusive.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, framed the docuseries as a reflection of MLBB's expansive global presence. More importantly, he said it gives talents like Sanford, Chell, and Cinny a platform to share inspiring stories of grit and determination. He also celebrated Chell and Cinny's inclusion as recognition for women in mobile gaming, aligning with MOONTON's goal to promote diversity and inclusivity. I appreciate that because MLBB has been at the forefront of empowering women esports athletes on the global stage. During the inaugural EWC, MLBB was the only esports title to have a professional open tournament and a competition dedicated to women. By EWC 25, MWI unveiled a 16-team lineup, and MSC welcomed Japan and Vietnam with dedicated Wild Card slots. The tournaments keep getting bigger, but the challenge for pro players remains the same: one game, two championship titles to clinch.
Here is a quick look at the stories featured in Level Up:
| Player | Team | Challenge | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanford | Team Liquid Philippines | Father's massive stroke; became primary breadwinner | MSC at EWC 24 |
| Chell | Team Vitality | Lost grandfather upon arrival in Riyadh | MWI at EWC 24 |
| Cinny | Team Vitality | Lost grandfather upon arrival in Riyadh | MWI at EWC 24 |
The episode schedule is worth noting. Level Up premiered on 6 June at 1 am CEST or 7 am GMT+8. The second episode launched on 13 June and highlighted Sanford's story. The third episode arrived on 20 June and featured Chell and Cinny. If you missed it, find it on Prime Video. The trailer is also floating around social media, and yes, it gave me chills.
So what does this mean for us in 2026? It means the conversation around mental health, family, grief, representation, and sustainable careers in esports is not optional anymore. It is necessary. We can celebrate the insane plays, the savage kills, the championship skins, and the prize pools. We should. But we should also check on our teammates. We should respect the women grinding in the same ranked lobbies and competing on the same international stages. We should remember that behind every pro player is a person who might be carrying more than a headset and a jersey.
For me, Level Up is a reminder that winning is not the only thing that matters. Family matters. Grief matters. Representation matters. The Land of Dawn is where we fight, but real life is where we survive. If you are an aspiring pro, let Sanford, Chell, and Cinny remind you that resilience is part of the skill set. If you are a fan, let their stories remind you that your idols are human too. And if you are a teammate, be the kind of person who makes the backstage as strong as the stage.
That is the real level up. 🎮❤️