[APAC] Rival Esports 🇸🇬 Letting Rookies Rise

Entering their third year of competition, Singaporean organization Rival Esports have signed an unlikely team from East Asia, planning to continue their track record of building talent into LAN finishes. 

New Kids on the Block

“Yutapin” and “Totoron” are two talented players from Japan who will debut together for the 2026 BSC season in one of the most interesting rosters to come out of East Asia. In 2025, Yutapin competed in the August Monthly Finals, placing them in the Top 5-8. Much like Battoman, a standout player who returned to competition in 2025 who is expected to join ZETA DIVISION for 2026. Yutapin has bounced around the lower end of the Japanese scene for a while now, competing in several Monthly Finals throughout 2023, alongside REJECT player Shu, finding multiple top 8 finishes but being unable to break into the top 4 during an odd year for competition broadcasts where only the top 4 teams from each subregion qualified to the “Monthly Finals.”

On the other hand, Totoron is a complete rookie and will look to prove himself in 2026. He took part in the Rival Challengers League during 2025 with “MoMoTarou,” qualifying to the playoffs through the upper bracket after taking down NAVI. If that wasn’t enough, Totoron’s squad eliminated REJECT 3-2 during the playoffs, placing 3rd place in a great showing from the young stars. 

An Experienced Captain

After a stint on NAVI throughout 2025, Ryohei will step up to lead this group of young talent into the 2026 season. The Japanese veteran has been around since 2019, but completed his first full year of competition in 2021 during the reign of ZETA. He’s bounced around a number of different teams since then, including 3R Gaming, F/A Nai Dug, and Team Flash, where he placed 9th-12th at LCQ with losses to SK Gaming and Reconic Esports SA. Most recently, Ryohei competed on NAVI during their second and final year in East Asia alongside 2024 teammate Kuru and his former teammate, Achapi, who lifted the World Champion trophy together in 2022. NAVI looked outclassed by Reply Totem, but with two wins over UPCore Esports, they did advance through to their golden ticket match. While closer than before, Ryohei was stopped one step short of qualifying to the World Finals, losing against Papara Supermassive in a 0-3 sweep.

Earlier reports indicated that both Ryohei and Rival Esports had different plans for the 2026 season. Following Mameshi’s retirement, it was likely that Achapi would join the core of ex-RVL to take Terry’s place with Melty joining them for the 2026 season, while Levi and Ryohei would join Shu on REJECT. Ken-G’s surprise return to active competition shifted things, and Ryohei was left behind as Melty and Shu retained their core duo from 2024 into the 2026 season. On the side of the organization, early reports indicated that F/A Nai Dug was actually the roster of choice for Rival Esports, but the contract was not closed before SKCalalas formed their EA roster. 

Despite being one of East Asia’s longest tenured players, Ryohei has yet to qualify to his first World Finals. With rostermania shaking the scene to its core, Ryohei will have to lead his team of rookies to bring himself back to the top. They are looking to prove that they deserve a moment of greatness despite all odds.

Rival Esports’ roster is:

🇯🇵 Ryohei

🇯🇵 Yutapin 

🇯🇵 Totoron