“Being a professional gamer as a woman feels like defying the expectations of the entire world,” says Vivi Indrawaty (aka BTR Vivian), captain of the all-female Indonesian esports team Bigetron Era.

Her team is on an impressive winning streak, with an unbroken run of first-place victories in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournaments since 2021, including a gold for Indonesia at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

But their biggest challenge is off the battlefield: the fight for recognition in the world of esports, where professional players battle it out in phenomenally popular games. Although women now make up nearly half of the global gaming community, their representation in esports is still burgeoning, and prize money in women’s leagues is a fraction of what’s up for grabs in men’s leagues.

Bigetron Ace, an all-female team competing in PUBG Mobile tournaments, has also been shooting up the ranks. “In some games, we’ve faced male teams or defeated them, proving we can win in a mixed-gender tournament,” says Meutia Maharani (aka BTR Mute), who has won six PUBG Mobile championships since her debut in 2019.

Together, Era and Ace are changing the face of the competitive esports scene – and showing that success is as much about team dynamics as it is about target practice.

“What I love about MLBB is the emphasis on teamwork,” says Vivian. Fierce fights between teams of five make MLBB the ultimate esports game – and one of the most watched. It clocked a mammoth 530 million viewer-hours globally in 2023.

Victory requires thinking strategically about the game’s different roles and play styles: you can be a roamer like Vivian, moving around the map to assist various team members, or a mighty markswoman, doling out sustained damage from a distance. A balanced team composition is key to success.

Battle-heavy PUBG Mobile tournaments are similarly open-ended. “There are no predefined roles,” says Mute. “Our gameplay in each tournament is unpredictable – we’re constantly changing our strategy.”

That can require experimenting and, sometimes, losing the battle, says Mute. “Many women’s teams disband after not winning once or twice. Don’t give up so easily.”

Like her Era teammates, Vivian stepped away from a “safer” job as a graphics engineer to pursue esports full time. “Starting out as a pro player meant dealing with a lot of uncertainties. Most pro players are men, and there’s a common perception girls aren’t as skilled as male players.”

Vivian had to beat hundreds of other hopefuls for a place in the MLBB leagues. She eventually earned a full-time spot with Era. “I stayed because I love the game. I didn’t want to just go halfway.”

That level of perseverance is rare, according to Era’s coach Tasia Lestari, Indonesia’s first female MLBB coach. “The process required to achieve victory involves listening to others, self-evaluation and hard work – not everyone is ready for that.”

Managing emotions plays a big role, too, she says. “Winning or losing isn’t all about technical skills. You must be aware of your emotional responses during the match.”

The current generation of female pro players is opening the door for the next. Two female teams were recently invited to join the PUBG Mobile National Championship play-offs, giving them a shot at the coveted PUBG Mobile Super League (PMSL). The PMSL has typically been dominated by all-male teams due to the gender bias of lower leagues.

And MLBB’s developer Moonton announced it will invite the first and second-placed teams of the Women’s Seasonal League to participate in the 10th season of the MDL, which has featured only all-male teams until now.

Mute is optimistic for the future. “Our hope is for the PMSL to one day make the participation of a ladies’ team mandatory. I’d really like for us to make our mark on an international stage.”

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