“We never imagined this”: Yangon Galacticos’ Smile on PMWC win, earthquake recovery and Myanmar’s esports rise

Yangon Galacticos, hailing from a country in the midst of civil war which also faced a devastating earthquake just months ago, wasn’t a team many expected to be a top competitor at the PUBG Mobile World Cup (PMWC) 2025.

The sole representatives from Myanmar, however, narrowly edged out the favourites from China, Weibo Gaming, to claim victory. To learn more about the team’s underdog performance, Esports Insider spoke with the team’s IGL, Swan ‘Smile’ Wint Maung.

Growing up in Myanmar, Smile has been a lifelong gamer. The 23-year-old used to commute to a gaming cafe to play because he didn’t have a PC at home. This is where he found his love for PUBG Mobile.

“When I was young, I liked to play Counter-Strike and enjoyed both shooting and survival games. PUBG Mobile includes both of these elements, which is why I love playing it,” he said.

Despite being good at the game from the get-go, Smile faced issues with his device, competing on a mid-range smartphone. Moreover, Myanmar as a region is bundled into SEA for PUBG Mobile competitions, which is undoubtedly one of the strongest for PUBG Mobile esports.

Therefore, for Smile, his in-game skills weren’t just enough to advance him through different tournaments. Being a pro player since 2021, however, he was able to win tournaments and cash prizes, allowing him to upgrade his phone.

On March 28th, 2025, a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit Myanmar, with the epicentre being close to Mandalay, the second-largest city in the country.

At the time, Yangon Galacticos’ players were competing in the PUBG Mobile Regional Clash (PMRC) – Rondo Cup from Yangon, about 620 kilometres from Mandalay.

The earthquake was the most powerful to hit the country since 1912 and killed more than 3,300 people in Myanmar, with many more injured.

“I still feel deeply shaken by the earthquake,” said Smile.

“At that time, we were playing the PMRC tournament, and it had a huge impact on us because the earthquake was not only in Mandalay but also affected Yangon.

“Even while playing, we couldn’t stop thinking about what might happen next and where we would go if things got worse, and that affected our tournament performance.”

Despite this, the team managed to win the PMRC the next day, taking down top teams from the SEA (Bigetron Esports) and other Asian regions.

From there, Yangon Galacticos turned its focus to the World Cup in Riyadh, knowing there was only one route to get there: the PUBG Mobile Challengers League (PMCL)

Smile stated: “Since there is only one chance in a year to advance to the PMWC, we have to give everything to be ready for it. Even with the destruction caused by the earthquake, we had to stay focused and prepare ourselves fully for that opportunity.”

Yangon Galacticos was ultimately able to qualify for the PMWC through PMCL, winning the event’s sole spot by beating fellow Myanmar representative Burmese Ghouls.

Going into the tournament, though, Smile never expected to win one of PUBG Mobile’s biggest events of the year.

“When we advanced to the PMWC, we expected a top 5 or top 10 finish — winning the trophy and becoming champions was something we never imagined,” he said.

For Yangon Galacticos, even a top 10 finish seemed tough after placing 11th in the group stage, being knocked down to the Survival Stage. Here, the team fared even worse, placing 8th.

A last-game third place pushed the organisation to the grand finals, as it qualified by just a point.

Therefore, going into the PMWC 2025 grand finals, Yangon Galacticos was technically the last seed. However, the team turned everything around with some consistent performances.

“The final day, day three, especially game five, was the only time I believed we would win the PMWC,” said Smile.

“Before that, I was just enjoying the moments on the grand final stage during day one and day two, without expecting too much.”

Ultimately, Yangon Galacticos edged out Weibo Gaming in the overall standings, overcoming one of the tournament’s strongest and most experienced teams. Its secret weapon wasn’t just skill or strategy, but something far deeper.

Smile explained: “The main thing is that the four of us are like a brotherhood, like a family. This is the core of our chemistry and teamwork, which sets us apart from other teams and is why we win over them.”

Yangon Galacticos’ victory was a huge moment for Myanmar esports, and the country made that known as fans gathered in the airport to welcome the team. Thousands of people were present, Smile said, as the roster was given a hero’s welcome.

He said: “I feel very happy because the celebration was completely unexpected. We had seen many Middle East organisations like Team Falcons being celebrated when going to the PMWC, with crowds cheering for them, and we wanted that in Myanmar too.

“We didn’t expect it to happen, but when we returned to the airport, thousands of people were there, welcoming us and celebrating together.”

The victory at the PMWC extended beyond just personal accomplishments for the team. Smile explained that this would have a direct effect on securing sponsor interest, getting more organisations to invest in the scene and also inspiring more players.

“In Myanmar, parents generally do not want their children to play on the phone and often scold them for gaming,” said the player. “This makes our achievement a huge advantage and a source of pride for Burmese people in Myanmar.”

With this win, Yangon Galacticos secured over $540,000 (~£400,000) in prize money. When asked about his plans for the earnings, Smile didn’t hesitate before giving his answer.

“I only want my parents to have a good life, so I just want to use all of that for them.”

Next up, Yangon Galacticos will aim for the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) set to happen in November and December 2025.

Disclaimer: Esports Insider’s interview with Smile was translated from Burmese.