Kiaya (GAM Esports) is exactly an unknown that is difficult to predict.

It can be said that because in the early days of 2024 when the Z-Face - Outstanding GenZ Face category of the Wechoice Awards 2023 entered the voting race, this name caused a lot of shock. 

In just one night, Kiaya (GAM Esports) broke through to the top of the chart, holding the number 1 position, above Jenny Huynh or Dang Thu Ha - KOLs who are familiar to young people and have huge fan salaries.

Who is Kiaya (GAM Esports) that has such great support? The answer comes immediately after that. Kiaya's journey "from a boy who only finished first grade to an iconic gamer of VCS - Vietnam's No. 1 League of Legends tournament" is so inspiring and he created an unprecedented effect.

The zero-to-hero effect brought him to the 2023 Wechoice Awards and Honors Gala night, successfully becoming a Prominent GenZ Face with more than 116,000 votes, far ahead of other famous names. Even people who are not Esport fans also applauded with emotion at the victory of Kiaya - a Gen Z with the most inspirational story "Dare to Be Passionate, Dare to Be Brilliant".

And the most unforgettable scene was when Kiaya walked on stage to receive the trophy, thanked everyone for their support and said: "Even though I am not highly educated, I will try to become a successful citizen." good people. I will try to bring everyone a positive, energetic face."

Nearly a year has passed since that moment, are you curious, how is Kiaya doing?

Kiaya

Full name is Tran Duy Sang Born in 2001, lives in Ho Chi Minh City.

Achievements:

VCS's No. 1 top laner owns 6 VCS championship trophies - the No. 1 League of Legends tournament in Vietnam.

Vietnamese e-Sports athletes won gold medals at SEA Games 31

Together with teammates in GAM Esport, we won the VCS Summer 2024 championship.

Received the title of FMVP (best player in the final) VCS Summer 2024.

Many times participating in the biggest tournaments of global Electronic Sports: World Championship, MSI or playing for the Vietnamese national League of Legends team competing at ASIAD 19...

Z-Face category winner - Outstanding GenZ Face of Wechoice Awards 2023 - with 116,247 votes.

Stepping out into the world of competition, we see that winning and losing are not just for ourselves

Hi Kiaya, nice to see you again. How has Kiaya's past year been?

I received a lot of attention and love from many people, including those working in fields other than Esport. Furthermore, when the story "from a boy who only finished first grade to an iconic gamer of VCS" spread, I received a lot of words of encouragement. It became a valuable spiritual fulcrum for a boy like me. So, here I also want to thank WeChoice Awards 2023 for giving me this wonderful opportunity. 

As for work, let's review Kiaya's highlights in the past year!

Of course, for a gamer like me at work, achieving victory and conquering the peak is always the top goal. So, in the past year, the thing that made me most proud was being able to maintain the VCS championship; At the same time, participate and express yourself at international tournaments such as MSI and Worlds (League of Legends World Championship). Although my goal of reaching the top 8 has not yet been achieved, the journey over the past year has been very meaningful to me.

So which moment is the most memorable in 2024?

I think it was the match between GAM (GAM Esports) and MDK (MAD Lions KOI), because we were destroyed in the first game that day but luckily we overturned the odds and were able to score 2-1 against MDK. That was the most emotional match for me in 2024. 

Speaking of emotions, I think of the moment you cried backstage at the 2024 World Championship when GAM was eliminated, losing to Team Liquid. What happened then?

Before that moment and the photo was widely shared on social networks, I participated in a joint interview with Mr. EasyLove (Hua Thanh An, born 1999 - plays as a gunner and is a gamer). senior player of VCS). During the interview, listening to EasyLove's shares made me sympathize and shed tears.

Even though I know that winning and losing in sports is inevitable, when I think back that my team led 1-0 but still lost to Team Liquid, I'm still sad. At that moment, I thought that I could do better, that's why I couldn't hold back the emotions in my heart and hugged my face and cried like that. 

Many people say that when they lose in an international match, the players cry not for themselves but for the "country" behind them. Have you ever clearly felt that sacred feeling?

Yes! In sports, everyone desires to achieve victory, even more special when their team represents the VCS region, the League of Legends community in Vietnam on the international playing field. For me, right now, winning and losing are also the image of the entire region and country where I was born and raised. However, I always believe that opportunities will come to those who never give up. I believe that with burning passion, my teammates and I will make the domestic VCS audience proud in the near future. 

In addition to trying your best to bring home victory, for young people like you who wear the national flag to compete, what detail is the spirit of national pride most clearly shown?

I am grateful and appreciate the love of my home fans. The antiquity of Vietnamese fans, the pride of being a child of a great united, resilient and steadfast nation gives myself and my teammates great motivation to participate in tournaments. international competition - where there are strong opponents, requiring fierce competition. We confidently express ourselves and bring glory to our country. 

Looking back at yourself, how did going to the international arena help you grow? 

Having fought internationally for many years has made me grow up a lot. From then on, my responsibilities and goals gradually changed. From a kid who was simply passionate about competing on a big stage, he is now thinking about taking on the entire VCS region - carrying on his shoulders are many expectations from League of Legends fans in particular and those who love me in general.

(Laughs) When I say this, I feel more clearly than ever the price of maturity. I am no longer a toddler, with a lot of playing experience, I can now be considered a mainstay in the team. This also means that I have to do more things, things I have never done before, such as making more decisions when competing. 

There are always higher peaks, but opportunities sometimes only come once, right now you have to try your best

This reminds me of the sentence you once shared: "If it's number 2, no one will remember you." Does Kiaya still have this pressure now?

I was taught this story about the number 1 position when I first started at GAM. At that time, Mr. Ti Ni (Tinikun - real name is Duong Nguyen Duy Thanh, former coach at GAM) always reminded himself to have a clear goal - to always be number 1 in this Esport profession, because "there will be no more." No one remembers you when you're number 2, people only remember number 1. That is also the saying that resonates with me the most so far. 

As for pressure, I think not. On the contrary, it is also a motivation, pushing yourself forward, making you develop more every day. Setting specific goals in life also helps you clearly visualize the path you are on and what you need to do to achieve that goal. 

If you are no longer number 1, no one will remember you, but are you still happy to be yourself and have done your best? It's okay to live life to the fullest!

Sometimes I encounter barriers and failures. Let's call it the time when I was no longer number 1. At that time, I also had moments of feeling depressed, making me lazy and even thinking about giving up.

However, when I think about the future that lies ahead and see people around me still striving, I remind myself to get up after falling and continue moving forward.

There will always be higher peaks, opportunities in life sometimes only come once. So, right now I need to try my best. Once I've tried my best, there's nothing left to regret. Then when I'm no longer at the peak, I won't feel regret for not living every moment to the fullest.

But, do we need to always move forward? What should you do when you're too tired, Kiaya?

In my opinion, we humans always move forward and constantly strive to develop ourselves, which is what we should do to have a better life for ourselves and those around us. 

However, there will be times when we are almost about to collapse and give up, which is also inevitable in life. At these times, don't force yourself too much, give your body and mind a break to heal and continue moving forward. Like me, I will listen to music I like and go for a walk alone at work, slowing down a bit. All difficulties will pass if we step through them. 

More specifically, what did you do in the most difficult times to overcome it? I remember you saying "thank yourself for not giving up during the most difficult times" but is just not giving up enough?

Besides that, I will think about my family. Just thinking about my family will make me feel motivated, stand up and continue working. I also often think about my own future. I keep thinking that if I don't work and have no income now, how will my family live? I have come to this day with all my passion and effort without stopping for a moment, difficulties are just a challenge. That is the motivation that makes me never give up.

Having said that, family must rank first on your "life pressure" scale, right? 

No, the first pressure for me is always myself, the second is my family, the third is my teammates, the fourth is the fans and the fifth is the VCS region.

So what would it be to say thank you to yourself in 2024?

I thank myself for working tirelessly, and always being positive in every situation, even the most difficult.

What do you hope will come true in 2025?

That is achieving achievements such as winning 2 seasons of LCP (League of Legends Championship Pacific), reaching the top 8 of Worlds (League of Legends World Championship) and top 6 of MSI (Mid-Season Invitational). This is also considered a measure of success for me at the present time.

If someone said Kiaya "changed her life" thanks to League of Legends, what would you say?

Yes, when I say that thanks to League of Legends, I am much better than before. But I sincerely advise young people to still focus more on studying if they intend to follow the professional Esport path. 

As for myself, I have been very lucky to have had the help of many enthusiastic seniors in the profession. Without their help, I think it would have been difficult for me to get this far.

So currently, Kiaya is still living the life she wished for? Do you want to change anything?

I feel so happy and grateful for the position I have. Every morning I wake up, I'm still healthy, my family is always at peace, and I can live fully with my passion and the job I love. This leaves me with nothing to complain or regret.