VCT Pacific has released the first episode of ‘Homegrown’ a docuseries shining the spotlight on some of the staple players and dives into their story.
SOUTH KOREA – Khalish “d4v41” Rusyaidee headlines a VCT Pacific documentary, following the seasoned veteran’s esports career starting with the early days and leading up to the point he is at now with Paper Rex as one of the best teams in VALORANT.
“In the state of Kelantan in Malaysia, opportunities for gamers are few and far between. So when Khalish Rusyaidee was offered the chance to be a professional gamer, he knew he had to go all in. Join d4v41 as he recalls growing up in Kelantan, Malaysia, his start in competitive gaming, and how fishing taught him more about life and VALORANT.“
Hailing from Kelantan, a state in the northeast of Peninsular Malaysia, d4v41 has dedicated over four years to Paper Rex since the organization’s founding, emerging as one of Malaysia’s most accomplished esports players. d4v41 stands as the sole representative of Malaysia in the prestigious VCT Pacific League and is the only Malaysian player to have taken part in an international VALORANT event thus far.
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The documentary delves into d4v41’s love for fishing, a hobby that brings him immense peace, particularly in light of his increasing responsibilities with age. “I find it like a safe space for me to kinda release my stress. Every day, it’s always in front of the PC, practicing and stuff. But when I go out to fish, it’s a good place for me to take a moment and think about life decisions.”
Similar to many other Southeast Asian kids, d4v41 was introduced to PC cafes at a young age, starting at seven years old. However, it wasn’t until the end of 2016 that he secured his first contract with Kuala Lumpur-based organization Orange Esports playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.“I don’t really have a backup plan anyway. So, it’s kind of like a do-or-die for me. At the time, for some reason, I knew that I can do better than most of the players in the scene and stuff.”
d4v41 also makes it a priority to maintain his relationships with his family and friends, often spending quality time with them through activities like karaoke and fishing. “Friends are very important to have in your life.
“Nowadays, I don’t really like spending time in front of the PC; I would rather go out with them. And most of the time, we try to go fishing if we have free time, or we would go for karaoke sessions. I think it’s way more balanced because I think it’s important to take care of those little things.”
Being there for his mom is important to d4v41 as well. “My mom has always been supporting me as well. I always keep in mind that I always have to take care of my mom. Even when I do better and better, it should be my mom first. And being able to lift my family’s burden I guess? Helping my mom with anything she wants. If she wants this, I’m like ‘Yeah, no problem I got you.’”
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Cover photo courtesy of Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
