‘I was so poor as a child I shared a bed with 7 siblings — now I’m worth $300,000 thanks to esports’

‘I was so poor as a child I shared a bed with 7 siblings — now I’m worth $300,000 thanks to esports’
Rowgien ‘Owgwen’ Unigo of Team Falcons in action at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Updated 25 July 2024
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‘I was so poor as a child I shared a bed with 7 siblings — now I’m worth $300,000 thanks to esports’

‘I was so poor as a child I shared a bed with 7 siblings — now I’m worth $300,000 thanks to esports’
  • After his star performances at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, champion roamer Rowgien ‘Owgwen’ Unigo, who plays for Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons, shared his heartwarming and life-changing story

RIYADH: When it comes to tales of rags to riches, Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo’s story is hard to beat. As a youngster, he shared a bed — not just a room — with his seven siblings. Now, as a 23-year-old professional esports player, he has career earnings of $300,000.

“I grew up in a very poor family,” Owgwen, from Quezon City in the Philippines, and a world champion roamer for Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons in “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang,” states matter-of-factly.

“We are seven siblings and we just lived in our grandparents’ house. All seven of us shared one big bed. I’m the eldest. Sometimes my other siblings would wake up during the night because the space in the bed wasn’t big enough for all of us. It meant we suffered from lack of sleep.”

The family also struggled to feed themselves. His mother, who ironically worked in a restaurant, and unemployed father, divorced when he was young.

“We were so poor that we only had broth and rice to eat — broth and rice every day, every week,” says Owgwen. “The broth was from a neighbor for free. The rice was from our grandmother, whose house we all lived in. It wasn’t enough with seven siblings. It was really hard.”

Despite all this, he developed a passion and talent for gaming, playing whenever and wherever he could with friends and people he met who saw his ability.

Owgwen, whose incredible gaming moves are adored by millions of fans across the globe, remembers quite vividly the first time he won a “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang” amateur tournament in the Philippines.

“I thought: ‘there’s money here,’” he recalls. “I won — I won money for winning these tournaments, and that helped a lot when it came to providing for my family. As an eldest son, it helped my family survive through everyday life.”

His dream was to become a professional esports player. The barrier to that, as a 19-year-old still to be signed up, was getting time off from his job as a call center agent to compete as much as possible and be spotted.

“Luckily, Coach Ducky scouted me,” says Owgwen of Francis “Ducky” Glindro, a fellow Filipino who is the coach for Team Falcons. “He secured me my spot in esports and the rest is my journey.”

Owgwen adds: “I support three siblings. They are only children — aged 14, 12 and 11 — and are still going to school. I help my family provide for what they need. And, of course, the bills I help with too.

“It means a lot to me to be able to do that. Life is hard when you don’t have anything, and you have to survive in your life. It helps my family, and me, to experience a normal life.

“I’ve made, like, $300,000. It’s been life-changing for me and my family. It makes me feel really good I can give my family whatever lifestyle they want.

“What motivates me the most is that I came from poverty. It really drives me to compete and play competitively against my opponents.”

In addition to supporting his family, he also recently set up his first business — an internet cafe and gaming hub in Binangonan, around 30 km from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. His dad helps him run the gaming hub.

“Business is booming,” Owgwen smiles.

Growing up, Owgwen could never have dreamed of the places that his gaming exploits have taken him to around the world. Having traveled on a plane for the first time two years ago, when he was 21, he has since been to Cambodia, Indonesia, Romania, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The latest venture is the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the largest gaming festival in the world, running for eight weeks from July 3 until Aug. 25 at Boulevard Riyadh City.

The elite competition is where the best players and clubs on the planet battle it out for the Esports World Cup Club Championship. The tournament has a prize pool of $60 million, the largest in the history of esports, and truly life-changing money.

With Owgwen in fine form, Team Falcons qualified for the “Mobile Legends: Bang Bang” final earlier this month at the Esports World Cup. However, in an incredible game-for-the ages showpiece, in front of a raucous crowd at a packed Saudi Esports Federation Arena, they were beaten 4-3 by Malaysian outfit Selangor Red Giants.

As disappointed as Owgwen was, overcoming setbacks is something the Filipino knows all too well. He also sees the big picture and was blown away by the passion for gaming and esports in the Kingdom.

“It’s so big here,” says Owgwen. “Saudi Arabia supports esports. It really helps us shine as athletes that otherwise might not have the opportunities. It really means a lot to me. I think it’s a pleasure to serve Team Falcons here.

“They have trusted us with their name. We made it to the Grand Final but sadly we didn’t win the championship. But it was still a great experience for us in our journey here in Saudi Arabia.”

Asked whether he wants to become a millionaire through esports, Owgwen replies: “I’m not focused on the money. I’m focusing much more on winning esports games and helping my teammates be better on our ‘ML:BB’ journey.”

And his message to those who were once just like him, with only their dreams and love of family to live for?

“Don’t stop,” he says. “Don’t stop catching your passion. If you really like your passion then you won’t have any regrets, and you too can come this far.”


Andreeva youngest woman left in Wimbledon women’s draw after nervy win over Sherif

Andreeva youngest woman left in Wimbledon women’s draw after nervy win over Sherif
Updated 56 min 42 sec ago
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Andreeva youngest woman left in Wimbledon women’s draw after nervy win over Sherif

Andreeva youngest woman left in Wimbledon women’s draw after nervy win over Sherif
  • Russian hot prospect put to work in opening match on hot and humid Court 3 by energetic Egyptian

LONDON: Wimbledon seventh seed Mirra Andreeva booked her place in the second round with a 6-3 6-3 win over Mayar Sherif following a nervy start on Tuesday, with the 18-year-old now the youngest woman standing at this year’s tournament.

Big things are expected of the Russian teenager who reached the fourth round on her debut at the All England Club as a 16-year-old, but was quickly put to work in her opening match this time on a hot and humid Court 3 by the energetic Sherif.

A nervous Andreeva found herself 2-0 down at the start, but broke back when Sherif hit a backhand wide. The pair traded breaks again, fighting a baseline battle, but Andreeva took a crucial 4-3 lead with a powerful backhand winner down the line.

She broke again and claimed the set with another backhand, this time passing the 86th-ranked Egyptian as Andreeva grew in confidence and began to demonstrate the kind of agility and dexterity that has made many tip her for Grand Slam success.

A wasted break point at the beginning of the second led the Russian to repeatedly hit her thigh with her racket in frustration. She made sure not to waste another, breaking to go 3-1 up and from there had no trouble in closing out the match.

Andreeva, coached by former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, will next face 63rd-ranked Italian Lucia Bronzetti for a place in the third round.


Tearful former champion Kvitova loses on Wimbledon farewell

Tearful former champion Kvitova loses on Wimbledon farewell
Updated 57 min 49 sec ago
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Tearful former champion Kvitova loses on Wimbledon farewell

Tearful former champion Kvitova loses on Wimbledon farewell
  • The 35-year-old Czech announced last week that she will bring the curtain down on her career after the US Open in August
  • Kvitova could not hold back the tears when she was given a standing ovation by the crowd

LONDON: Petra Kvitova’s Wimbledon farewell ended in an emotional defeat as the two-time champion was beaten 6-3, 6-1 by Emma Navarro in the first round on Tuesday.

Kvitova returned from maternity leave in February following the birth of her son Petr in 2024, but found it difficult to handle the demands of being a mother on the gruelling tennis circuit.

The 35-year-old Czech announced last week that she will bring the curtain down on her career after the US Open in August.


Kvitova’s decision gave the former world number two, who has won 31 titles in her career, one last opportunity to return to the scene of her Wimbledon triumphs.

But American 10th seed Navarro ruined her hopes of a long Wimbledon goodbye with a clinical 60-minute victory on Court One.

Kvitova could not hold back the tears when she was given a standing ovation by the crowd, responding with a wave before drying her eyes.

“It’s very special to play on this beautiful court one more time. I wish I could play a little bit longer but it’s OK, whatever” she said as more tears flowed.

“This place holds the best memories I could wish for. I never dreamt of winning Wimbledon.

“I will miss Wimbledon for sure, I will miss tennis but I’m ready for the next chapter as well.

“I can’t wait to be back here as a member. Thank you very much Wimbledon.”

A raw 21-year-old when she stunned Maria Sharapova to win the 2011 Wimbledon final, three years later Kvitova returned to the All England Club title match to rout Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-0.

Now ranked 572, Kvitova has lost eight of her nine matches since becoming a parent.

But she says Wimbledon means “everything to me,” an emotional connection forged not just in her tennis triumphs but also because her engagement to her coach Jiri Vanek took place on Center Court in 2022.

She rolled back the years at the start of the first set, racing into a 3-1 lead with a series of blistering winners.

But the left-hander is no longer the force of old and she lost five games in a row with a host of unforced errors as Navarro took the set.

By the time Kvitova lost the first two games of the second set, her fate was almost sealed.

She managed one last echo of yesteryear, holding serve in the third game and celebrating with a clenched fist.

That show of defiance was Kvitova’s final fling as a double-fault finished her All England Club career.

She bowed out with a kiss to her family in the players’ box before leaving the Wimbledon stage for the last time.


Botafogo sack manager Paiva after Club World Cup exit

Botafogo sack manager Paiva after Club World Cup exit
Updated 01 July 2025
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Botafogo sack manager Paiva after Club World Cup exit

Botafogo sack manager Paiva after Club World Cup exit
  • Paiva’s team went out at the last 16 stage with a 1-0 loss
  • Paiva said he was shocked by the club’s decision

SAO POALO: Botafogo have sacked manager Renato Paiva following their Club World Cup exit, the Brazilian club said, despite his side beating Champions League winners Paris St. Germain earlier in the competition.

Paiva’s team went out at the last 16 stage with a 1-0 loss after extra-time to fellow-Brazilian club Palmeiras, and the manager has paid the price after just four months in charge.

Botafogo grabbed the spotlight at the Club World Cup when they beat PSG 1-0 in the group stage, having earlier defeated Seattle Sounders, and they advanced as Group B runners-up despite a 1-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid.

“The Club thanks Paiva and his assistants for their services to Botafogo over the last few months,” a club statement on social media said.

“Particularly for the historic victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup and the qualification for the round of 16 of the (Copa) Libertadores and Copa do Brasil.”

Paiva said he was shocked by the club’s decision.

“I don’t want to talk at the moment, there will be time for that. All I can say is that I’m shocked, and the staff and players are open-mouthed about the decision,” he told Globo Esporte.


Monaco sign former teen prodigy Fati on season’s loan from Barcelona

Monaco sign former teen prodigy Fati on season’s loan from Barcelona
Updated 01 July 2025
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Monaco sign former teen prodigy Fati on season’s loan from Barcelona

Monaco sign former teen prodigy Fati on season’s loan from Barcelona
  • Monaco said the loan deal for the 22-year-old forward includes an option to buy at the end of the season
  • Fati burst onto the scene with Barcelona in 2019-20 season

MONACO: Monaco signed Ansu Fati on a season-long loan from Barcelona on Tuesday, offering the former teen prodigy another chance to resurrect his career.

Monaco said the loan deal for the 22-year-old forward includes an option to buy at the end of the season.

Fati burst onto the scene with Barcelona in 2019-20 season. At the age of 16 years and 304 days in August 2019, he became the club’s youngest scorer in the Spanish league.

Nearly four months later, at the age of 17 years and 40 days, he became the youngest goalscorer in Champions League history.

Fati would set other records — he previously held the record as Spain’s youngest ever scorer — with his reputation growing as a quick and tricky right winger with an eye for goal. He was predicted to become a world superstar in much the same way as 17-year-old Lamine Yamal is now with Barcelona and Spain.

Like Yamal, he also had great versatility, offering him the possibility to operate as a second striker or by dropping deep in the “false nine” role.

But the Guinea-Bissau born forward then experienced a series of injuries which impacted his confidence and form.

He played only a handful of games for Barcelona in the past two seasons and spent part of the 2023-24 season on loan to Premier League club Brighton, scoring four goals in 27 games.

Fati netted 29 goals in 123 games overall for Barcelona and scored twice for Spain in 10 matches. He appeared fleetingly at the 2022 World Cup and has not played for the national team since 2023.

Fati’s arrival follows the signing of former France midfielder Paul Pogba on a two-year deal and strengthens coach Adi Hütter’s attack.

Pogba and Fati should add more versatility and extra firepower to an attack containing the prolific Mika Biereth and skilful US forward Folarin Balogun.


Al-Hilal ‘climb Mount Everest’ and shock world with stunning win over Manchester City at Club World Cup

Al-Hilal ‘climb Mount Everest’ and shock world with stunning win over Manchester City at Club World Cup
Updated 17 min 29 sec ago
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Al-Hilal ‘climb Mount Everest’ and shock world with stunning win over Manchester City at Club World Cup

Al-Hilal ‘climb Mount Everest’ and shock world with stunning win over Manchester City at Club World Cup
  • Epic 4-3 win in Orlando prompts widespread acclaim for Simone Inzaghi’s tactics and players’ never-say-die attitude

DUBAI: Al-Hilal proved once again that few clubs in Asia, or even the world, are capable of hitting seemingly unreachable heights after a stunning 4-3 win against Manchester City in the round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup.

Simone Inzaghi’s team trailed at half-time in Orlando to Bernardo Silva’s opener, but stormed back after the break to take the lead with strikes from Brazilians Marco Leonardo (46 minutes) and Malcolm (52).

Erling Haaland leveled the score minutes later to ensure the match went into extra time. Then Kalidou Koulibaly’s 94th-minute third for Hilal was cancelled by substitute Phil Foden 10 minutes later.

The stage was set for Leonardo to score an emotional winner with 8 minutes left on the clock.

In the aftermath of the victory, Al-Hilal’s official account on X posted a video clip of the players celebrating in the dressing room with club President Fahad bin Nafel.

 

 

Al Jazeera commented that “Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal have sent English giants Manchester City crashing out of the Club World Cup, snatching a shock 4-3 victory in extra time in the biggest upset of the tournament so far.”

For “all City’s depth, Al-Hilal had a deep well of spirit to draw upon,” Al Jazeera added, highlighting the Riyadh club’s powers of recovery against one of the world’s best teams.

The BBC reported that the former Premier League champions had been “stunned in extra time by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal in an incredible seven-goal thriller.” And that Leonardo had delivered a “monumental result for the 2021 AFC Champions League winners.”

In his match report for the UK’s The Guardian newspaper, Jamie Jackson highlighted the job the new Hilal coach has done in such a short period and in challenging circumstances.

“Inzaghi took over four days after Inter’s 5-0 Champions League thrashing by Paris Saint-Germain,” the report said.

“He left an Italian giant for a Saudi one but before taking on Real Madrid in the group opener had only two weeks to implement his ideas, a central plank of which is the favored five-man backline he fielded here.

He added that the 1-1 draw against “the European aristocrats in his first game was an eye-catching calling card” but here Inzaghi was without his captain, Salem Al-Dawsari, and No. 9, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Inzaghi himself said the key to the result was “the players, the heart they put on the pitch.”

“Tonight we had to do something extraordinary because we knew how good Manchester City are,” the Italian coach said. “We knew we had to climb Mount Everest without oxygen and we were great.”

 

 

“We played with a strong determination and we are really feeling the game. They deserved it,” Inzaghi added. “They fought for every ball and it gives satisfaction to the family of Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia and the fans here with us.”

The former Inter Milan coach’s tactics were lauded by fans and pundits on social media.

On X, football analyst Roger Bonet wrote: “Hats off to Simone Inzaghi again. Only a few weeks of work, yet Al-Hilal looks sharp and confident.”

One X account, @sportsdokitor, posted that “Simeone Inzaghi is one of the best managers in the world and he’s proving it again at Al-Hilal,” while another was even more effusive with praise.

@ChelseaWay_  posted: “I genuinely don’t think (I’ve) ever seen a manager put his stamp on a team as quick as Simone Inzaghi did with Al-Hilal. This is (genuinely) ridiculous.

“I am watching them this tournament, and their patterns of play, movements, pressing structure, link up in small spaces.”

Meanwhile Al-Hilal match winner Leonardo received praise across the board for his return to form after a difficult recent period at the club.

“I’ve had a difficult time in the last two months. My mother spent 70 days in the ICU,” he said at the final whistle. “Today, she’s fine, thank God. When I scored those two goals, I thought of her. She was able to watch the match.”

 

 

Arab football fans and accounts hailed the result and Al-Hilal’s performances at the Club World Cup.

Bilal Haddad (@bilalhd91), with 4.1 million followers on Instagram, posted an Arabic-language video in which he disbelievingly says “am I dreaming or is this real.”

Also on Instagram, Arab football fan @fayadzinho did not hold back his joy.

“The Saudi league just embarrassed the Premier League, yes Al-Hilal have done it. I’ve been waiting for this day for more than 11 years,” he said in an emotional video clip.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Fayad (@fayadzinho)

 

Even Hilal’s greatest rivals Al-Nassr joined in.

“Al-Hilal is demonstrating to the world the strength and quality of the Saudi Pro League,” @TheNassrZone, with almost 69,000 followers, posted on X.

“Their performance reflects the league’s rising prominence and commitment to excellence. A well-deserved salute to them for elevating Saudi football even more on the international stage.”