SEA Games: Associate professor wins esports gold for Malaysia

The Hearthstone player, an associate professor at Heriot Watt University Malaysia, beat Thailand's Popian Werit 3-1 in the final after coming through the Lower Bracket.

After making past the Group A qualifying round, the 29-year-old with a Doctor of Philosophy was knocked out of the Upper Bracket by Chew Khai Kiat but exacted revenge when he reached the Lower Bracket final to face the Singaporean again, winning 3-1 this time.

"This gold medal means a lot to me and Malaysia, because it is our first medal for esports in SEA Games history.

"I feel amazing, happy and grateful. I believed that I was able to make history by contributing a medal to the country.

"Esports is a trend now and will stay regardless of what we do. Parents should look at it from a positive side, because gaming can actually improve your thinking, critical and strategic skills.

"These are all the necessary skills to life. But kids should have balance between gaming, healthy activities and studies. If you are gaming all the time without improvement in studies, you are not going very far," Yew said the medal presentation ceremony.

His achievement was Malaysia's second esports medal in the Philippines after the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang team of Ahmad Ali Huzaifi Abdullah, Abdul Wandi Abdul Kadir, Jamil Nurolla, Izme Haqeem Hamsjid and Muhammad Hazeem Onn won bronze on Sunday.

Malaysia also almost had a podium finish in Arena of Valor as they finished fourth.