Adam Zakaria from Johor Bahru, Malaysia was born blind, but his disability has never stopped him from dreaming of stepping onto the international esports stage.
His dream drives him to chase the competitive gaming stage
Adam is a skilled player of the popular mobile esports game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), despite being visually impaired.
Due to his impairment, he is unable to enjoy the bright visuals and effects of game like most people. He would even struggle to control characters on a smartphone screen. Yet, his determination to pursue his dream in competitive gaming pushed him go beyond.
Relies on sound cues & vibration effects
When he first encountered MLBB, Adam was only 13. He told China Press that he had to memorize the entire game interface and rely heavily on sound cues and vibration effects to play, a method completely different from other players.
“My friends and younger brother would tell me about the positions of the bushes, lanes, and rivers in the game. Over time, I memorized everything.”
He aspires to compete on the big stage
To other people, esports may just be a game, but to Adam, it’s a huge dream. He hopes one day to join a professional competitive gaming team and compete internationally. Adam said that he had already applied to several well-known competitive gaming clubs, including CG Esports, Todak, and Selangor Red Giants (SRG).
He believes that MLBB has given him space to grow, helping him build confidence, social skills, and communication abilities.
Johor’s teen doesn’t just have one wish, he has a big dream for the future
Adam also wish to learn from the best players, to master the most effective tactics available (META), and continue to demonstrate that players with disabilities can have an equal place in the competitive gaming community.
“I know many people with disabilities love gaming, but they might give up because they can’t see the opportunities to become professional players. I won’t give up. I will continue to participate in esports to prove that people like me have a place in the esports world.”
Lack of support for disabled players
Adam pointed out that the current MLBB esports scene has no dedicated technology or accessibility support for disabled players, especially in terms of interface design and character selection.
“That’s why I can only rely on friends to help me choose characters before each match,” he said. “I also need to memorize all the characters’ abilities and practice my skills constantly to compete.”
Although the local esports scene does not have specific categories for disabled players, Adam still participates in community tournaments alongside other players.
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