Behind the screen: an esports star’s rise to the top

Across the Pacific Ocean, in the same arena that hosted the 2016 Olympic Games, thousands of fans screamed their hearts out as their favorite esports players took to a dazzling stage.

Hailing from countries all over the world, these athletes vied for the top spot at the Free Fire World Series (FFWS) Global Finals – the pinnacle competition for Free Fire, a mobile-based battle royale game developed and published by Garena.

Wira “Dutzz” Gunawan / Photo credit: Garena

Among those who gunned for the US$300,000 grand prize was Wira “Dutzz” Gunawan, a player from RRQ Kazu, one of Indonesia’s biggest esports organizations. For him, making it to the grand finals was the result of six years of hard work and dedication. But if you ask him, he’ll tell you he is only getting started.

“Finishing second was definitely tough to swallow, but it’s just made me hungry to achieve even more,” Gunawan says.

Safe Zone 1

Mission: Attain Grandmaster rank in Free Fire

Gunawan picked up Free Fire “purely out of curiosity” in January 2018 after a friend asked him to give it a shot.

“The thrill of my first match was like stepping into a whole new world,” he recalls. “It was only meant to be a casual gaming session, but I felt so passionate about it. As you can see, I’m still playing the game.”

For those unfamiliar with professional gaming, trying out a new title might seem like a simple task. For Gunawan, however, it was serious business. He would meticulously review replays of every match to identify areas of improvement. Armed with these insights, he would then refine his in-game strategies.

Gunawan in action at the FFWS Global Finals 2024 / Photo credit: Garena

He also took inspiration from popular content creators such as LetDa Hyper and Efdewe, as well as Free Fire esports veterans like Legaeloth. Watching these experienced players helped Gunawan understand how to quickly adapt whenever there were updates to the game, allowing him to stay one step ahead.

Just one year after getting into Free Fire, Gunawan achieved the rank of Grandmaster – the highest in the game. It was then that he realized he was ready to take the next step: going pro.

Safe Zone 2

Mission: Win local tournaments

As an amateur player, Gunawan’s first steps into the professional scene consisted mostly of joining smaller local tournaments run by grassroots organizations. After securing a few wins, he finally got his big break in 2021. Echo Esports, an Indonesian team, noticed his achievements and offered him a spot.

“It was a life-changing moment,” he says.

Together with his teammates on Echo, Gunawan often trained using Free Fire’s Custom Room. This sandbox-like feature allows players to set up certain scenarios in which they can hone their mechanical skills and develop advanced strategies for competitive settings.

During this period, he also formed a close friendship with Jaya “Ombaac” Winoto, another player on Echo. They encouraged each other at every practice session, sharing tips for improvement and building better team chemistry.

Gunawan (first from right) and Ombac (middle) with their ECHO teammates / Photo credit: Garena

Winning minor tournaments with Echo further boosted Gunawan’s desire to compete. It’s no surprise that in 2021, he joined his first official Garena-organized competition: the Free Fire Master League (FFML) Season 4: Division 2 Qualifier.

“It was so exciting for me,” he shares. “These official tournaments are not just about the prize money. They’re like pressure cookers that test our skills and allow us to gain experience on the big stage.”

Echo dominated its competition group and was promoted to the highest level of the local competition: Division 1.

This achievement also meant a new challenge awaited the team.

“Heading into Division 1, I thought we would dominate and win the championship,” Gunawan recalls. “However, we were a bit overconfident and underestimated some teams, and eventually we finished in third place.”

The ECHO team / Photo credit: Garena

It was back to the grind. Gunawan and his teammates dove headfirst into training and, in the following year, took part in Free Fire Indonesia Masters 2022 Spring, a national tournament. There, Echo defeated 11 other teams in the grand finals to clinch first place; Gunawan even claimed the Predator title, which is awarded to the player with the most eliminations in the tournament.

Looking back on that competition, Gunawan credits Echo’s focus on improving team chemistry as a key factor in their tournament-winning run.

“We started enjoying playing the game together, and naturally, our performance reached an all-time high,” he explains. “Winning the national championship was a pivotal moment in my career and solidified my belief that Free Fire esports was the path I was meant to take.”

Safe Zone 3:

Mission: Represent Indonesia on the global stage

With a national title under his belt, Gunawan began yearning for something greater: the FFWS, which he had aspired to compete in since its inaugural edition in 2019. Winning Free Fire Indonesia Masters 2022 Spring was his ticket, as it qualified Gunawan’s team for that year’s FFWS in Sentosa, Singapore.

The ECHO team leaving for FFWS 2022 / Photo credit: ECHO

“In 2019, watching the Indonesian teams trying their best really lit a fire in me, not just to play for myself but also to represent my country on that huge, global stage,” Gunawan says. “Finally getting there was so surreal and a dream come true. It’s a memory I’ll never forget.”

The international arena wasn’t a walk in the park – no matter how much they prepared, it never seemed enough. This, coupled with a bit of bad luck, led to Echo finishing in eighth place.

However, it wasn’t for naught. Gunawan’s efforts put him on the radar of RRQ Kazu’s coach, “Adi” Gustiawan, who then reached out to the player. Sensing an opportunity to meet new challenges, Gunawan jumped at the chance.

Together with RRQ Kazu, Gunawan competed in the next two editions of FFWS, placing 4th and 2nd in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

“I’m so proud of my team, from the players to the management. Everyone put in so much hard work, and I believe our result reflects that,” he shares.

Gunawan (second from right) with his RRQ Kazu teammates / Photo credit: Garena

Gunawan also shares how upgrades to Garena’s tournament formats over the years have kept competitions engaging. These changes include the introduction of the FFWS Southeast Asia league in 2024, as well as Point Rush, a high-stakes stage before the grand finals, which allows teams to accumulate bonus points going in.

He adds that while adapting to new changes “can be challenging,” they have made competitions “fairer and more dynamic.”

“These changes keep me on my toes,” Gunawan says.

The golden road ahead

Looking ahead, Gunawan is eager to compete in even more tournaments, whether they’re for regional titles or on the international stage.

But it’s not just about tournament glory this time. He believes it’s time to give back to the community – starting with posting more content on YouTube, documenting his experiences, and sharing tips for players.

It’s an admirable goal, but Gunawan says his main driver will always remain the same as it was six years ago when he first picked up the game.

“I won’t stop until I am the global champion,” he says.

Gunawan’s story is just one of the many inspiring tales that bring Garena’s gaming community to life. It’s a testament to Garena’s mission of bringing accessible, high-quality, immersive games and building a global community where passionate gamers connect, share experiences, and grow together.

Garena is a leading global online games developer and publisher. Free Fire, its self-developed mobile battle royale title, is one of the biggest mobile games in the world. To learn more about how Garena is pushing the Free Fire ecosystem forward, check out its website.

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This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.