Tried, tested, and triumphant: Why KarlTzy is the the GOAT of MLBB

For years, the word GOAT, short for “The Greatest of All Time,” floated around the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) community. This title has been tossed around to various pro players, commonly towards Carlito "Ribo" Ribo Jr., who won every major MLBB esports trophy in his prime. It wasn’t a golden road, but his championships took time to add up. 

However, as the MLBB esports scene continued to evolve and new stars began to rise, Ribo slowly faded from the spotlight. Eventually, fans shifted their attention to Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno, who was one of the youngest pro players at that time. He won his first M-world championship at 16 years old. Sometimes the title of "Young GOAT" was mentioned in admiration, other times in playful teasing. He was confident and already a world champion, but the title never seemed to sit right with him. To KarlTzy, it wasn’t something you declared for yourself. Rather, it was something you earned, again and again, on the biggest stages.

In an interview with esports.gg, KarlTzy shared why he had long refused the GOAT title, and what ultimately made him embrace it.

For years, KarlTzy never took the GOAT label fans gave him seriously. He always thought it was simply a way to tease him. 

“At first, it was just for fun, like they were teasing me. I didn’t really acknowledge it,” he admitted.

Even though whispers of “the GOAT” followed him through each tournament, he kept his focus elsewhere. He was fixated on wins, growth, and the next objective. After all, in esports, labels mean nothing if the trophy cabinet doesn’t back them up.

KarlTzy’s record speaks volumes. He is a two-time M-word series champion, multiple Mobile Legends Professional League Philippines (MPL PH) trophy winner, and even a Southeast Asia Games gold medal finisher. Here’s a quick rundown of the major championships he won throughout the years, up until November 2025, at least:

Despite his large collection of trophies and medals from 2019, he always kept himself grounded. KarlTzy never accepted the GOAT status until he got that one last trophy missing from his cabinet, the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) 2025.

If there were a song to capture KarlTzy’s chase for the MSC title, it would have to be Katy Perry’s "The One That Got Away." The MSC title had always been the one that slipped through KarlTzy’s grasp. Under ECHO, he finished third in the 2023 event. The following year, now with Team Liquid PH (formerly known as ECHO), he and his squad once again settled for 3rd–4th place. But as the saying goes, the third time’s the charm. And for KarlTzy, the third run was the one that finally brought the elusive trophy home.

In August 2025, Team Liquid PH stormed through the mid-season event, which was part of the Esports World Cup 2025 event, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. KarlTzy and the squad defeated the defending champions SRG.OG of Malaysia with a 4-1 score to win the grand finals. 

With the trophy finally in his cabinet, KarlTzy, with a large smile on his face, finally accepted the title, “Now, I’m really happy that everyone sees me as the GOAT.”

Heavy is the crown of being called the GOAT, but that didn’t stop KarlTzy from reaching cloud nine that day. And just like that, he became not just the greatest of all time, but also the face of MLBB esports.

The title of GOAT in esports isn’t defined by a single metric. For some, it’s the number of championships won. For others, it’s about consistency, how you adapt to change, or the ability to inspire teammates. 

For KarlTzy, it’s about being able to accept your mistakes, embrace change, and pick yourself back up after a loss. After all, you only lose the game if you quit.

“Maybe it’s during the times you lose. Because in esports, you can’t always win. So I think the biggest factor is how you bounce back from those really tough losses.”

It rings true. In esports, nothing lasts forever. Meta shifts almost monthly. This means, a minor patch update could erase a superstar’s advantage. Back in the prime of utility tank junglers in MLBB, KarlTzy refused to adjust. His identity was always being the best at playing assassin heroes. 

In a podcast from Wolfscast, KarlTzy shared how he never liked to play outside his comfort zone. He wanted to be the damage dealer, not the damage sponge. It didn’t go as planned. KarlTzy faced a streak of disappointments, Seasons 7 and 8 with Bren Esports, followed by Season 9 with ECHO. Season 9 marked ECHO’s debut, and despite being hailed as a “super team” of well-decorated and promising players, their first impression fell short of expectations.

KarlTzy took the loss hard, blaming himself for the team’s performance. But with a gentle nudge from ECHO‑turned‑Team Liquid PH team manager Mitch Liwanag, he realized that to compete with the best, he had to adapt and evolve. Sometimes, it takes a fall to understand what it truly means to rise, and that moment shaped KarlTzy as the GOAT we know today.

The story of a once young GOAT maturing into a reliable leader is far from over. KarlTzy and his squad, Team Liquid PH, are on their way for a Golden Road run, aiming to win the M7 World Championship this coming January 2026. While the event is technically scheduled for next year, it forms a key part of MLBB esports’ 2025 roadmap.

The M7 World Championship represents the ultimate challenge: competing against the world’s best teams and proving that their dominance isn’t limited to regional play. If history is any guide, KarlTzy and the squad thrive under pressure. It will be interesting to see if Team Liquid PH endures like a diamond and makes history as the first team to achieve the Golden Road run in MLBB history.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for more MLBB news and updates.