Here we go again: Blacklist International squares off against Indonesia's RRQ Hoshi in M4

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News

Katrina Alba

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Indonesian teams have become all too familiar opponents for the Blacklist Agents.

Fans and casters were salivating in anticipation last Sunday, January 8, when Blacklist International picked signature hero Estes during the M4 World Championship upper bracket quarterfinals.

"Eto 'yun eh! Itaas niyo na ang inyong mga kamay kasi may skin 'to! Makikita natin sa loob ng game 'yung Estes ni OhMyV33NUS!" caster Midnight said during the match against Brazil's RRQ Akira.

It was expected to be Blacklist's world championship debut for the support hero's black and silver skin, one they got as a prize for winning the M3 World Championship, one that featured the Queen's signature pose, one they were able to achieve after a social media movement and fan backlash against game company Moonton.

But in the three times that Jonmar Villaluna played her key hero, she used Estes' Galaxy Dominator skin. She said it was her favorite.

"Ayoko kasi maglaro na ang mindset namin is kami 'yung defending champion," the captain of the Blacklist Agents said after the 3-1 victory.

The Filipino squad would have to keep this in mind and stick to the basics of their gameplay as they face RRQ Akari's sister team, Indonesia's RRQ Hoshi, right in Jakarta for the upper bracket semifinals.

Blacklist International is all too familiar with Indonesian teams, facing them in key matches in tournaments.

RRQ Hoshi, which had expressed the wish to play against sister Brazilian squad Akira in the upper bracket, have yet to close out a series against the Filipino team.

Blacklist actually faced off against RRQ Hoshi members Rivaldi "R7" Fatah, Albert "Alberttt" Neilsen Iskandar, and Calvin "Vynn" in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games. The Filipinos secured the back-to-back gold with a 3-1 record in the finals.

Blacklist picked up a 2-1 win against RRQ in the 2021 ONE Esports MPL Invitational semifinals and swept them in the M3 lower bracket quarterfinals.

RRQ Hoshi might pick up lessons from compatriots who HAVE beaten Blacklist in the past. Geek Fam ID had quickly dispatched of the Agents in the November 2022 ONE Esports MPL Invitational quarterfinals, 2-0, with an Yve.

That mage, along with fighter Yu Zhong, became key picks for Indonesian team EVOS Esports in obliterating Blacklist in both the upper bracket quarters and the grand finals of the IESF World Esports Championship 2022 held in December.

Blacklist didn't pick Estes there. And the one time RRQ Hoshi played against the support hero was back in M3.

Maybe we'll see it again, with or without its black and silver skin glory.