We hear from the CEO of Oasis Gaming and FULL SENSE to hear their thoughts about the current state of the tier-two circuit, where their passions stem from, and what it means to have such a prominent role in the community.
CEOs in esports might not always resemble the typical corporate suit-wearing, sharp-collared businessman, or in this case, businesswoman; often, they’re just huge fans of competitive gaming themselves. We wanted to talk to two organization leaders who founded their own esports teams within the tier-two VALORANT scene, and learn a bit more about what it means to take on such a big role and responsibility.
The world of esports is a multifaceted industry with many moving parts, roles, and entities within it. It’s an ecosystem of different groups of people who all benefit from the way the circuit revolves. Let’s break it down.
The game publishers and developers need a way to help promote their game and market it to viewers and players: que in esports, an entertaining way to get people interested in the game, that also provides a competitive environment where the best players can try to hone their skills in a highly professional setting, the very same players that an esports organization would want to pick up to turn their brands into household names, as being one of the more prestigious orgs is a great way to pull in sponsorships.
These sponsors help fund the circuit and the teams to get their names out there, to the eyes of the viewers and fans watching, of which every single viewer is directly contributing to the ecosystem that was directly made with them in mind, simply by watching and tuning in. It’s a beautiful cycle.
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Every single piece of the system is invaluable, yet one could definitely make the argument that the most important part of that circuit is the teams themselves, both the players in the server and the team organizations, big or small, that back them up. After all, how could you have competitive gaming without, well, any teams to compete in them in the first place?
Today, we’re going to be talking to two teams who have been huge parts of the Southeast Asian VALORANT scene since the start of the competitive lifespan in the region: FULL SENSE from Thailand, who just recently won the 2025 VALORANT Challengers SEA Split 1, along with qualifying into the first-ever VALORANT Champions event back in 2021, and Oasis Gaming from the Philippines, who have played in multiple different tournaments in the SEA region, including the 32nd edition of the Southeast Asian Games, the APAC Predator League OFF//SEASON events, as well as VCT APAC stages in 2022.
At the end of the day, esports and competitive gaming, as entertaining and exciting as it is, is a business. One that comes with its own set of unique challenges, especially in the rapidly changing digital world. Yet some choose to take those risks, to defy the odds in lieu of a bigger dream, people who hold a crucial role in the esports ecosystem: the team owners.
Just as in traditional sports, esports organization CEOs and owners are significant parts of the circuit & system and are some of the most influential people to consider within the sphere, even Riot Games takes note of esports organizations’ shared concerns.
We reached out to two CEOs from two different esports organizations from within the VALORANT Southeast Asian scene, Arra “an0raK” Baron from Oasis Gaming, and Intouchaya “Jijung” Chinpinkyo from FULL SENSE, to hear their thoughts about the current state of the tier-two circuit, where their passions stem from, and what it means to have such a prominent role in the community.
A Passion For The Passionate
To better understand what it means to run an esports organization in Southeast Asia, we first have to ask what drove them to start this journey in the first place and why they do this.
Arra or “an0rak” of Oasis Gaming shares that the team organization came from a simple idea, one that developed into being able to share that spark with the community around her, stating, “I believe that, like many other esports founders, it all starts with a passion for gaming. Being able to turn that initial spark into something tangible and build a community around that passion means a lot to me.”
This focus on community and the fans that support them is probably one of the biggest reasons why the brand has done so well where other organizations have unfortunately fizzled out throughout the years in the tier-two space: because they understand what it means to have a real connection with their community.
(Photo courtesy of Colin Young-Wolf/Riot Games)
As for Intouchaya “Jijung”, CEO of FULL SENSE, she shares with us that her starting the org stemmed from her love of competition, and she quickly realized she had a chance to create something real, and doing that at such a young age seems just as impressive as the team’s recent performance during the 2025 VALORANT Challengers SEA Split 1. Of it, she also mentions as well how it has helped her grow throughout the years:
“I’ve always loved competing, whether it was playing sports or watching them. When I was 19, during my first year of university, I started playing VALORANT and really got hooked on the competitive side of it. Since I already had a passion for competition, I thought, why not start a team with my friends? At first, it was just for fun. We even got our first logo made for fun.
But over time, as I met more people in the esports industry, I realized that I had a chance to do something special, and that’s when I decided to take it seriously. With the support of my parents, who saw this as a great learning opportunity, I was able to turn FULL SENSE into a real esports organization. Starting FULL SENSE at 19 and seeing it grow has been an incredible journey. This team means everything to me—it’s a huge part of my growth, it’s taught me a lot, and I’ve made lifelong friendships along the way.
Over the years, one thing that’s definitely changed is my mindset. From the first day I started FULL SENSE to now, I’ve learned a lot. I’ve become better at handling stress, trusting others, and letting go of things I can’t control. As the organization grows, I realize more and more that I have to trust the people around me. With competition, there’s so much outside our control, so all we can do is prepare well and trust our team. That said, one thing that hasn’t changed is our goal: to elevate Thai esports to an international level. It might sound repetitive, but it’s what pushes us to improve year after year.”
(Photo courtesy of Lance Skundrich/Riot Games)
It’s a tale as old as time; esports is a scene born out of passion, made for the passionate. With esports being a relatively fresh emerging scene in the past 25 years, it still comes with many unique challenges compared to more established circles and career paths.
Many aspiring professional players know this struggle all too well. How do they convince their families and the people around them that there is legitimacy to their chosen path? That it isn’t all fun and games, that there is a serious commitment required should they wish to become a full-time competitor on the international stage? Intouchaya shares that even they have had to help players in the past convince families about esports’ legitimacy:
“Another issue we face is getting people to recognize esports as a legitimate career. In many cases, we have to convince players and their parents that gaming is not just for fun but can be a serious career. It’s a challenge because a lot of people in this region still see it as just entertainment, not a sport.”
For team owners, this is not only a personal and societal challenge but a business one as well. Esports is one of the few forms of competitive sports media that is viewed by the spectator for absolutely free.
There is no barrier of entry to start tuning into your favorite esports competition on streaming sites like Twitch or YouTube, which is in contrast to more traditional sports like football, basketball, or even boxing events, that all come with an entry price if you wish to tune in.
Thus, esports teams need to find other ways to monetize their brand. Of course, things like merchandise or ad revenue exist, but sponsorships are one of the biggest ways to help enable any esports organization to be financially successful.
Although when you’re from Southeast Asia, a region comparatively underdeveloped in its esports infrastructure in contrast to other parts of the world, convincing sponsors to invest in the scene doesn’t come easy, as both CEOs shared specific troubles they’ve experienced when running an organization within the region, and some of the woes teams have when trying to lock in sponsorships:
OAS an0rak: “The Philippines’ gaming community is predominantly mobile-centric, which impacts key revenue streams that sustain esports organizations. This includes factors like sponsor and investor confidence, as well as the purchasing power of the fan base for merchandise and other support-driven initiatives. Unlike in NA or EU, where esports organizations can rely on a more diverse and sustainable ecosystem, teams in SEA often struggle to maintain financial stability unless they have a major backer or a dedicated fan base with strong purchasing power.”
Meanwhile, FS Jijung shares her perspective as a Thai org owner:
“While I can’t speak for all of Southeast Asia, I can share what I’ve experienced in Thailand. One of the biggest challenges is sponsorships. The budget from brands in this region is still not enough to fully support the esports industry, and esports is still seen as relatively new. Fortunately, FULL SENSE has been able to secure some great sponsors, thanks to our well-known influencers and financial backing. But sponsorships are crucial for esports teams. Without them, it’s tough to sustain the competitive scene.”
Locking in sponsorships is always going to be one of the trials any esports team will have to face. Even with Riot already being one of the most supportive esports devs the region has ever seen, being a team within the tier-two scene of Southeast Asia still comes with its own unique challenges.
The Trials of a Challenger
The tier-two scene in SEA has seen many evolutions throughout the years. Different nations and sub-regions used to have their own closed circuit, culminating in a tournament that housed some of the best teams within the region; this used to be the status quo up until the current VALORANT Challengers circuit implementation, which sees some of the best teams in the SEA region play against each other in a league format as a whole.
This change has certainly brought out many opinions from fans online who might feel either way about these decisions, but the ones we wanted to hear about are from the teams themselves, who are actively part of and have been part of the tier-two scene since its inception. Jijung, CEO of FULL SENSEgave her remarks regarding the current tier-two landscape, stating:
“The Challengers SEA circuit coming together this year has definitely presented some challenges for tier two. For us, the biggest issue has been the drop in viewership. This has a huge impact on sponsorships and the competitive scene in Thailand. The entire scene has become quieter as many organizations have pulled out, mainly because of the changes in the system and the uncertain future of tier two.”
She added, “For FULL SENSE, competition is crucial. We rely on other teams to keep the matches exciting and to attract viewers. But with so many teams pulling out, the scene has become less active, and if the future of tier two stays uncertain, we might see more teams drop out. There are fewer tournaments, and the path to competing globally feels much harder. It’s also shutting the door for new organizations wanting to invest, especially since starting from Premier is tough. The changes have definitely affected us as well.”
As she mentions, the drop in potential viewership has latently affected many teams within the region, as it becomes even more difficult for teams to keep their sponsors, which already was a challenge in SEA in the first place, as we mentioned earlier in this article.
There could be a multitude of factors that contribute to this, a change in format, a new broadcasting platform, the timing and scheduling of the league, or perhaps just viewer interest shifting away over time. Whatever reason it may be, we have to remember not to confuse the correlation of these trends as being the causality for the current state of tier two in the region.
Still ultimately, it’s led to teams wondering what steps may be taken to improve the current standing of the said region.
As an0rak, CEO of Oasis Gaming, shares her honest thoughts on the changes, she expresses that: “It had a significant impact on us, especially with the introduction of franchise academy teams. I know I’m not alone in saying that for the tier-two scene to survive, Riot needs to extend its support beyond just tier-one teams. At the very least, there should be a level playing field for all tier-two teams that are still competing.”
A call for more support is something I’ve heard about from many organizations, teams, and players alike from within the tier-two scene. But how exactly is that to be provided? It’s a long, intricate, and delicate discussion on what may be done to further improve the perceived health of the scene. For one, FS Jijung seemingly concurs with these sentiments as well and adds even some of her own ideas:
“I think the Challengers SEA circuit is a part of a whole tier-two system, which could really use more support. Increasing support for tier two would help attract more organizations and bring the competitive scene back to life.
She added, “More tournaments and boosting viewership are key. For instance, combining tier-one and tier-two teams in one tournament or providing additional support for tier two could make the circuit much more exciting. This would not only improve the competition but also give more visibility to teams and players. Additionally, supporting tier two would help nurture the local community, allowing it to thrive once again.”
It’s an interesting approach that she shares, as combining the tier-one and tier-two scenes was kind of how it was during the first 2 years of VALORANT’s competitive lifespan, which was of course because there was no distinction yet between either; but also, we’ve seen official OFF//SEASON tournaments that field teams from both tiers of competitive play be some of the most exciting tournaments we as VALORANT fans get to witness each year. Just some food for thought.
(Photo courtesy of Michal Konkol/Riot Games)
FULL SENSE itself as an organization has been active within the VALORANT competitive landscape since the inception of it within the region, but they also have presence and experience operating in a few other esports titles as well, to which their CEO shares how competing in VALORANT has proven to be quite a unique challenge in comparison:
“In VALORANT, since we’re in tier two, reaching the global stage is more difficult. The format requires us to go through multiple stages, and before reaching the global level, we need to go through Ascension and make it into tier-one leagues. So, right now, VALORANT is definitely the most challenging game for us. It’s different from other games we’ve been involved in because those offer more direct routes to the World Championship.”
Don’t be mistaken though, tier two was never meant to be easy, and it was never meant to replace or even compete with the tier-one leagues and tournaments at all, and perhaps the challenge it takes to get to the big leagues is exactly what makes VALORANT’s tier-two scene so exhilarating. Its unique-yet-streamlined approach is a perfect recipe for creating some of the greatest underdog stories in an era where dynasties are looking to be cemented.
And yet, it seems almost widespread to the people working directly within it that they all wish it could be a little more than what it currently is. We don’t have the answers to the current conundrum, as that will have to come from many more thinking heads, from all perspectives, including team owners, as well as the powers that be, to be able to more accurately conclude. For now, we just wanted to hear the opinions of the organizations that directly compete within the circuit we all love to watch.
Leaders of the Community
Esports, and especially many of the entities within it, will always have a presence in the public eye, as the community is always staying tuned in to many of the things happening within the scene. How players are performing recently, what talents are yapping about currently, and what roster moves team organizations might be making. This has a tendency to make esports, and the people within it, seem larger than life at many times; yet we commonly tend to often forget that these people are human too. Extraordinary in their own ways but live and breathe the same air we do.
And naturally, it’s human to take pride in your work, and what you’ve invested your time and everyday life into. So I wanted to ask both of them what their favorite part of being a CEO in esports is, with FS Jijung sharing:
“My favorite part is seeing the fans appreciate the team that I’ve built and witnessing the team’s success. There’s no better feeling than that. On top of that, I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many incredible people in the industry, and I’ve learned so much from them. It’s helped me grow and improve the organization. The best part is also feeling truly respected and loved by everyone in the organization. We all work together toward the same goals.”
and OAS an0rak shares, with a bit of humor in her response: “The obvious answer—boss people around [laughs]. Kidding aside, the real fulfillment comes from building an inclusive community that fosters the culture you want to nurture—something that’s not always common in esports organizations in the Philippines. It’s about having the freedom to create your own content and events that truly reflect the purpose behind why the organization was started in the first place.”
Yes, they are leaders, not only of their own organizations and businesses, but also of the community. When talking to our guests about their experience being a team owner throughout the years, I got a good sense from them that the community and fans are a large part of what drives these organizations to continue and push on.
Many times, these big bosses by title are also just fans themselves at heart, who wanted to make a difference and had the drive and means to do so. As for what surprised her the most about her journey as a team-owner, FS Jijung shares:
“Honestly, I didn’t expect there to be so much behind the scenes when running an esports team. We started as a small organization, and now we have so many employees in the office. There’s so much more than just managing a competitive team.
I’ve met a lot of incredible people along the way, and the industry has taught me so much. I also didn’t expect we’d have so many fans or that they’d be so invested in what we do. When we win, they celebrate with us; when we lose, they share in the disappointment. It’s more than I ever imagined. I want to thank everyone who supports the team and the players, and I never thought anyone would want to interview me either! Thanks to VALO2ASIA for that.”
As Jijung brought up, she didn’t even expect to ever get interviewed in this manner in the first place, and knowing and talking to an0rak of Oasis Gaming throughout the years, I got a sense that she was surprised we asked to interview her too. It’s just not a perspective we as fans get to hear from often, and at VALO2ASIA, we want to encompass everything all about VALORANT in our wonderful region and community.
Riot, the productions, and media within the VALORANT space have been exceptional in telling the stories behind many of the players in the VCT and have always taken the time to show the human side of these amazing competitors. And that’s kind of what we wanted to do as well by talking to some of the organizations within our own region since we don’t normally get to hear team owners ’ stories, especially in the homegrown community-driven realm that is the tier-two scene.
Every team starts with a dream. An ambition that comes to fruition because of a goal that a passionate individual, or group of individuals, aspired to achieve. In this pursuit, many people typically have future plans on what they’re hoping to be able to do to fulfill said goals.
As these two inspiring leaders and pillars of the community share their own plans for their respective organizations moving forward, one thing is made evidently clear; to them, esports isn’t just entirely about the accolades, the prestige, and the revenue you make, but also about giving back to the fans and community that has given us all so much in return.
FS Jijung: “In the future, we plan to add more teams to FULL SENSE and explore new ways to promote esports in Thailand. Last year, we created a song and music video for the team, and there’s so much more we can do to connect with people through esports. My goal is to help develop the esports scene in Thailand and elevate it on the international stage with FULL SENSE. And, of course, we love surprising our fans, so they can definitely look forward to even more exciting things in the future!”
OAS an0rak: “Aside from the fact that we want to hopefully get into Ascension, we’re hoping to do a part two to the convention we did last year. Things are still in the works, but we’ll have a much clearer picture of everything in the coming months.”
With both FULL SENSE and Oasis Gaming currently competing in their respective leagues, and both organizations planning community-centered events, managing their own content creators, as well as creating multiple types of online content to connect with the fans and audience, their plates are full and busy, and we thank them for taking the time to talk with us here at VALO2ASIA.
Check them out on their socials and wish them luck, because as pillars of the community, both these organizations help uplift, and push forward the scene we all are so passionate for.
For more insights on the Asian VALORANT scene and upcoming content like this, be sure to like and follow VALO2ASIA on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram.
