Rare Atom coach Raizan on his passion for MLBB esports: “I realized I can still do it. This is the way I want to live my life.”

One of the standout teams in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 at the Esports World Cup's (EWC) Wild Card stage was Rare Atom. All eyes were on the team, not just for their performance, but for the unique team dynamic behind the scenes. At the center of it all was coach Raymond "Raizan" Tandrian, an Indonesian figure guiding a primarily Chinese squad through high-stakes competition.

In an exclusive interview with esports.gg, coach Raizan of Rare Atom shared this experience is for him and how his career reignited the passion he once had for esports competitions. 

China is one of the most recent regions to hop into the MLBB esports competitive scene. Considered as one of the most competitive and dominant forces in the general esports space, the expectations were high for each representative. 

To help make the transition go a bit smoother, Chinese teams like Rare Atom acquired various talents from other regions with a well-established reputation for developing MLBB pros. This is where coach Raizen, an Indonesian coach who previously led teams like RRQ’s amateur squads and Dewa United Esports’ professional team. 

“It’s been a special experience,” Raizan said about coaching a Chinese team. “I’ve learned a lot about adapting, not just to different players, but to different ways of thinking and communicating.”

Language is often a barrier in international rosters, but for Rare Atom and coach Raizan, it became a manageable challenge thanks to the presence of a key translator within the team who can speak both Chinese and English.

“If no one could do that, it would’ve been really tough,” Raizan explained. “Not just casually, but in explaining complex strategies and in-game decisions. Gaming comms are a whole different language on their own.”

Cultural gaps, instead of causing friction, actually became a hidden strength. Raizan noticed the differences in how people communicate emotionally, especially when it came to dealing with tension or criticism.

“In Indonesia, if you talk too loudly or get mad, people might take it personally,” he said. “But in China, they talk fast, they talk loud, and they don’t take things to heart. It’s more open. That’s been a strength for us. We can speak our minds, fix problems quickly, and move on.”

Coaching is a job, no doubt about that. However, there are always two sides to a coin for every profession. And for Raizen, being a coach is more than just a profession; it’s a way for him to pursue his passion — something he let go of before due to personal reasons.

“At a young age, I wanted to be an esports player,” he shared. “But family reasons held me back. When I became independent and had my own money, I got a chance to coach an amateur team. That reignited my passion. I realized I can still do it. This is the way I want to live my life.”

Now, standing on the MSC stage, Raizan has proven just how far that passion has taken him. And even though Rare Atom didn’t make it past Virtus.pro in the Wild Card final, their run turned heads and, perhaps, inspired many who are also trying to make it big in esports.

With that said, Raizen couldn’t have made it this far alone. Closing the interview, he shared his appreciation to those who stood by him through thick and thin.

“To everyone who supported us — thank you,” he said. “Especially to my girlfriend and family, who are always praying for me and cheering me on. I won’t disappoint you.”

While they fell short in the Wild Card finals, Rare Atom’s journey is far from over. With a promising roster and a passionate coaching staff, the team is poised to come back stronger in future tournaments.

To keep track of the event, check out esports.gg's MSC 2025 at EWC tournament hub, where you can check out the updated scores, match schedule, and livestream links.