Six Bruneian players recently participated in the Digimon tournament at the Bandai Card Games Fest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, competing among 185 participants.
The event, at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, also featured card games such as Union Arena, OnePiece, Dragon Ball, Gundam and Battle Spirits.
Brunei’s participants comprised Hariz Sazali who finished at 12th place, Khairul Irzan who came in at 14th place and Ahmad Amiir who was placed at 17th spot. The other players comprised Syron Liew, Brandongi Wong and Jazli Syahir.
Khairul Irzan said, “It was very exciting for us to compete in such an event. Before this, we had only played locally in Brunei at Gamer’s Tavern, so we were nervous about how a big competition would feel.
“Despite language barriers, we managed to connect with players through our shared love for the game. Our main goal was to put Brunei on the map and show that we can compete with international players.”
He added, “Hariz’s win against the tournament champion, along with Amir and I defeating two former Malaysian champions, was a proud achievement for us.”
The group has been playing the Digimon Card Game since its 2020 release, inspired by the animated series. They enjoy its mix of strategy, tough decisions and opportunities to learn, as well as the global community it fosters.
The next competition, set after May, will be even more challenging as the game expands to unify players from Southeast Asia, Asia, Europe, and the United States, said Khairul Irzan.
He added, for those interested in the Digimon Card Game, he suggested visiting them in Kampong Sengkurong, where tournaments are held and players are happy to assist newcomers.
“Brunei’s smaller community isn’t officially registered under Bandai Card Games, so players join Malaysia’s events to compete. We hope the local community will grow enough for Brunei to gain recognition,” Khairul Irzan said.
“Some cards, especially rare collectibles from tournaments, can be valued at BND800-1,000 or more, though not as expensive as OnePiece cards.” – James Kon
