“I Was So Poor As A Child I Shared A Bed With 7 Siblings – Now I'm Worth $300,000 Thanks To Esports”
RIYADH: When it comes to rags to riches stories, it's hard to beat that of Rougien “Augwen” Unigo. As a child, he shared a bed—not just a room—with his seven siblings. Now, as a 23-year-old professional eSports player, he has a career salary of $300,000.
“I grew up in a very poor family,” Owen, from Quezon City, Philippines, and the World Champion Roamer for Team Saudi Arabia in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, states bluntly.
“We are seven brothers and sisters, and we just lived in our grandparents' house. All seven shared one large bed. I am the oldest. Sometimes my other siblings would wake up in the night because there wasn't enough room in the bed for all of us. This meant that we were suffering from a lack of sleep.'
The family also struggled to feed themselves. His mother, who ironically worked in a restaurant, and his unemployed father divorced when he was young.
“We were so poor that all we had was broth and rice — broth and rice every day, every week,” says Owen. “The neighbor had the broth for free. The rice was from our grandmother, in whose house we all lived. Seven brothers and sisters were not enough. 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 abilities.
Aries, whose incredible gaming skills are loved by millions of fans around the world, vividly remembers the first time he won the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang amateur tournament in the Philippines.
“I thought, 'Here's the money,'” he recalls. “I won – I won money for winning these tournaments and it helped a lot when it came to providing for my family. As the eldest son, it helped my family survive in everyday life.”
His dream was to become a professional e-athlete. The barrier to doing so, as a 19-year-old who had yet to register, was taking time off from working as a call center agent to compete as much as possible and get noticed.
“Luckily, Coach Ducky scouted me out,” says Owen of Francis “Ducky” Glindro, a Filipino who is the Falcons' coach. “He secured my place in eSports and the rest is my journey.”
Owen adds: “I support three siblings. They are the only children – 14, 12 and 11 years old – and still go to school. I help my family provide everything they need. And of course the bills I help with.
“It is very important for me. Life is hard when you have nothing and you have to survive in your life. It helps my family and I live a normal life.
“I made about $300,000. It changed my life and my family's life. It makes me feel really good that I can give my family whatever lifestyle they want.
“What motivates me the most is that I came out of poverty. It really makes me want to compete and play competitively against my opponents.”
In addition to supporting his family, he also recently established his first business, an internet cafe and gaming center in Binangonan, about 30 km from Manila, the capital of the Philippines. His father helps him run the play center.
“Business is booming,” Owen smiles.
Growing up, Owen could never have dreamed of the places his gaming exploits have taken him around the world. Traveling by plane for the first time two years ago, when he was 21, he visited Cambodia, Indonesia, Romania, Japan and Saudi Arabia.
The latest event is the eSports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, the largest gaming festival in the world, which will be held for eight weeks from July 3 to August 25 at Boulevard Riyadh City.
The elite competition is where the best players and clubs on the planet compete for the eSports World Club Championship. The tournament has a $60 million prize pool, the largest in eSports history, and truly life-changing money.
With Owgwen in fine form, the Falcons team qualified for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Finals earlier this month at the eSports World Cup. However, in an incredible game for the ages, they were beaten 4-3 by Malaysia's Selangor Red Giants in front of a raucous crowd at a packed Saudi Esports Federation Arena.
Although Owen was disappointed, the Filipino knows all too well how to overcome setbacks. He also sees the big picture and was impressed by the passion for gaming and eSports in the Kingdom.
“It's such a big place,” says Owen. “Saudi Arabia supports eSports. It really helps us shine as athletes who might not otherwise have those opportunities. It really means a lot to me. I think it's a pleasure to serve the Falcons team here.
“They trusted us with their name. We made it to the Grand Final, but unfortunately we didn't win the championship. But it was still a great experience for us on our journey here in Saudi Arabia.”
When asked if he wants to become a millionaire through eSports, Owen says, “I'm not focused on money. I'm much more focused on winning eSports and helping my teammates be the best they can be in 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 chasing your passion. If you truly love your passion, you will have no regrets and you can go this far too.”
