No longer the Young Goat, but still the GOAT of MLBB.
The term “GOAT,” meaning “The Greatest of All Time,” has been popular in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) community for a long time. Many pro players have been called the GOAT, but Carlito “Ribo” Ribo Jr. is a frequent contender, having won every major MLBB esports championship during his peak. While his success wasn’t instant, he steadily collected championships over time.
As Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports grew and new players became popular, Ribo gradually lost the spotlight. Fans began to focus on Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno, a remarkably young professional player who won his first world championship at just 16 years old. People playfully called him the “Young GOAT,” but he didn’t embrace the title. KarlTzy believed that being considered the greatest wasn’t something you claimed; it was something you consistently proved through your performance on the world’s biggest competitive stages.
KarlTzy recently explained to Xpsp why he avoided being called the ‘GOAT’ for so long, and what finally changed his mind.
The crown KarlTzy once refused
For a long time, KarlTzy dismissed the ‘GOAT’ title his fans had given him, believing it was just playful ribbing.
He explained that it started as harmless teasing, and he initially didn’t pay much attention to it.
Despite being called the greatest of all time, he remained focused on winning, improving his skills, and setting new goals. He understood that in esports, titles and praise don’t matter unless you have the championships to prove it.
KarlTzy is a highly decorated Mobile Legends player. He’s won the M-series championship twice, multiple MPL Philippines titles, and even a gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games. Here’s a look at his major championship wins as of November 2025.
| Year | Tournament | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | MPL PH Season 15 | Team Liquid |
| 2025 | MSC 2025 | Team Liquid |
| 2025 | MPL PH Season 16 | Team Liquid |
| 2024 | MPL PH Season 13 | Team Liquid |
| 2023 | M4 World Championship | ECHO |
| 2023 | MPL PH Season 11 | ECHO |
| 2021 | M2 World Championship | Bren Esports |
| 2020 | MPL PH Season 6 | Bren Esports |
| 2019 | 30th SEA Games | PH National Team |
Even though KarlTzy had won many awards in 2019, he remained humble. He didn’t consider himself the best until he finally won the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) in 2025, completing his collection of trophies.
Acceptance at last
KarlTzy’s journey to win the MSC championship feels like the story told in Katy Perry’s song, “The One That Got Away.” He’d come close before, finishing third in 2023 while playing for ECHO, and then again with Team Liquid PH (formerly ECHO) the following year, placing 3rd-4th. But they say the third time’s the charm, and for KarlTzy, that proved true – he finally secured the championship trophy.
I was so hyped watching Team Liquid PH at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh last August! They absolutely crushed it at the mid-season event, and it was amazing to see them take down SRG.OG – the defending champs from Malaysia – in the grand finals with a 4-1 victory. KarlTzy and the whole team were on fire!
KarlTzy beamed as he finally claimed the title he’d been working towards. “I’m just really happy people now recognize me as the greatest,” he said.
Being known as the best is a lot of pressure, but KarlTzy handled it perfectly and achieved his dream. He instantly became a legend in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports, becoming its most recognizable star.
What makes a GOAT in MLBB esports?
Determining the ‘greatest of all time’ in esports isn’t simple. While some people focus on the number of championships a player has won, others prioritize things like consistent performance, adaptability, and leadership skills.
KarlTzy believes that learning from errors, adapting to new situations, and persevering through setbacks are key. He emphasizes that the only true loss comes from giving up.
It’s often how you handle losing that really matters. In esports, you’re not going to win every time, so being able to recover from difficult defeats is key.
That really hits home. In esports, things change quickly. The most effective strategies, or ‘meta,’ can shift almost every month. A small update to the game can instantly take away a player’s edge. For example, when utility tank junglers were popular in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, KarlTzy refused to switch his style. He was known for being the best assassin player, and he stuck with that.
KarlTzy, in an interview on the Wolfscast podcast, explained he prefers playing aggressively and dealing damage rather than playing defensively. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as he hoped. He experienced setbacks in Seasons 7 and 8 while with Bren Esports, and then again in Season 9 with ECHO. Season 9 was ECHO’s first season as a team, and despite being considered a highly skilled “super team,” they didn’t perform as well as people expected.
KarlTzy was really upset after the loss, feeling responsible for how his team played. However, Mitch Liwanag, now a manager for Team Liquid PH, helped him see that he needed to change and improve to compete at the highest level. Sometimes a setback is necessary to learn and grow, and this experience was a turning point for KarlTzy, helping him become the legendary player he is today.
The GOAT’s journey is far from over
KarlTzy, once known as a rising star, is now a dependable leader, and his team, Team Liquid PH, is determined to win the M7 World Championship in January 2026. Although the championship isn’t until next year, it’s a major focus for MLBB esports in 2025. Their journey to the top is still unfolding.
The M7 World Championship is the biggest test for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang teams, pitting them against the very best from around the globe and challenging them to prove they can win on the world stage, not just in their region. Historically, KarlTzy and his team perform well under pressure, so it will be exciting to see if Team Liquid PH can withstand the challenge and become the first team ever to complete the Golden Road in MLBB.
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2025-11-10 20:14