SINGAPORE – Sleep is what Bellamy “Lolsie” Yeo needs after a gruelling two years of training and competition in the Mobile Legends Professional League Singapore (MPL SG), which he has won three times.

Such is his dedication to the mobile game that he commits at least nine hours a day to honing his craft.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force regular, who leaves for work at 6.30am, uses the two-hour commute on public transport to and from his workplace for practice, before another five-hour training session at home until 1am.

But this taxing regimen could end soon. While the 26-year-old believes he has “another one or two years” left in him, he is also contemplating retirement after the Mobile Legends M5 World Championship in Manila from Dec 2 to 17.

It is not unusual for players to retire in their mid-20s as the reflexes needed can be very demanding for older gamers.

“Definitely it’s the age, I can feel that it’s coming up to me. It’s just the adequate amount of rest and the family time, we’ll see,” said Yeo, an only child who hopes to spend more time with his parents.

The M5 will be his third time in the world championship. He also took part in M3 in Singapore in 2021 and M4 in Jakarta in 2022.

Yeo, whose journey as a competitive gamer started just two years ago with Team RSG, added: “I’m a person who likes challenges, so ever since I stepped into Moba (multi-player online battle arena) games, I always wanted to represent my country, join tournaments and travel the world.

“Sadly when I was younger, the community wasn’t so huge and I got my chance only when Covid struck and I was playing Mobile Legends night and day.”

He competed at the Cambodia SEA Games in May, when Singapore finished joint-seventh among nine teams.

He is now on loan to Team Flash, whom he helped win MPL SG Season 6 to qualify for M5.

Yeo is optimistic about their chances at the US$900,000 (S$1.2 million) tournament, based on results of their practice matches against top teams.

He said: “I aim for a top-four finish and I think it’s very doable, based on our scrim results and our stability.

“For our team’s targets, we hope to square off with Onic Esports and AP.Bren. They are the teams that give us a lot of problems and the teams we want to beat.”

There will be 16 teams battling it out in the group stage, with the top contenders being two-time MPL Philippines and M2 champions AP.Bren, three-time MPL Philippines and M3 winners Blacklist International and five-time winners of MPL Indonesia Onic Esports.

Regardless of whether they achieve their target, Yeo can be proud of an encounter with a customs officer, who also plays Mobile Legends, while going through the Philippine immigration.

He said: “He took my passport and asked what we were here for.

“I said Mobile Legends and he knew we were Team Flash. It’s quite exciting (to know that) millions play this game.”

His teammates are hoping that he stays on after M5.

Adam “Adammir” Chong, who was part of the EVOS SG team that finished fourth in M3, the highest placing by a Singapore team in the world championship, said: “Lolsie’s potential retirement after M5 would leave a large void in our line-up.

“It’s sad that MPL SG might lose one of its loudest and most experienced players.”

Jaymark “Hadess” Lazaro said he will miss Yeo if he retires “because he is like a brother to me”.

“He’s very positive and funny to be around,” he said.

But even if he quits competitive gaming, Yeo believes he will still be involved in some ways.

For now, though, sleep beckons for Yeo.

The staff sergeant said with a laugh: “To catch up on my sleep debt, I need to be in a coma for a month, I think.”