JASIN: Travelling alone at the age of 11 to pursue his passion for competitive gaming, Serkam-born Dhiya Ulhaq Muhammad Arasz never imagined that he would one day compete on the international e-sports stage.
Now 22, the professional PUBG Mobile player, better known by his gamertag “uHigh”, has come a long way from spending his afternoons at cyber cafes to representing some of the biggest names in competitive gaming.
His journey, however, was far from straightforward.
From convincing his father that gaming could be a legitimate career to spending three years away from home in Indonesia, Dhiya’s rise has been shaped by determination and sacrifice.
“I never expected to be playing on such a big stage. When I first started travelling alone for tournaments, I wasn’t nervous.
“I was excited because I wanted to prove myself, make my parents proud and help my family,” he told the New Straits Times.
Dhiya was met during an e-sports roadshow organised by Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Serkam state seat, Datuk Azman Abdullah, who invited him to share his experiences with local youths.
His passion began when his elder brother introduced him to cyber cafes, where they spent hours playing Counter-Strike and Point Blank.
From Year Two until Form Three, he spent much of his free time gaming, often heading to cyber cafes immediately after school.
However, with competitive gaming opportunities scarce in Melaka, Dhiya had to travel to other states to participate in tournaments.
“Back then, Melaka did not have many e-sports tournaments. Most competitions were held in Selangor because the gaming community there was much bigger.
“I had to travel quite far just to compete. That was how people started recognising me and my abilities,” he said.
His breakthrough came when he joined international e-sports organisation Team Secret as one of its youngest players.
He then helped the team win the PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL), securing a place on the global stage, although Covid-19 restrictions prevented him from travelling to Poland.
After two years, he joined an Indonesian team, spending three years in Jakarta before homesickness prompted his return.
“I was still young and had been away from my family for too long. I wanted to return and represent Malaysia under our own flag,” he said.
He later joined Team Yoodo Alliance before establishing his own team earlier this year following the organisation’s disbandment.
Dhiya said his father, who was initially opposed to his gaming ambitions, eventually became his biggest supporter after witnessing his achievements.
“My father was completely against e-sports initially because he did not understand the industry.
“But after I joined Team Secret and started winning, he changed completely.
“Now he is my number one fan and follows every tournament I compete in,” he said.
Reflecting on his journey, Dhiya hoped more e-sports competitions could be organised across Melaka’s state constituencies to discover untapped talent.
“There are talented players out there, but some simply do not have the opportunity to prove themselves.
“If we organise more tournaments, especially for village youths, who knows? We might produce more players capable of representing Malaysia on the world stage,” he said.
For Dhiya, his ultimate ambition remains unchanged.
“My dream is to become part of the first Malaysian team to win a PUBG Mobile world championship.
“I want to bring Malaysia’s name to the highest level,” he said.
He also urged aspiring professional gamers to remain disciplined and prioritise their responsibilities.
“If you really want to pursue e-sports, you must give it 100 per cent. There will be sacrifices, including your time and studies.
“Don’t just aim to compete in Malaysia or Southeast Asia. Dream bigger and don’t stop halfway,” he said.