I never imagined a mobile game—Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, or MLBB—could teach my students more about discipline and teamwork than some traditional classroom drills. Yet on January 11, 2026, standing inside Tunjungan Plaza 3 Surabaya, I watched my elementary school team from SDN PETEMON XIII/361 lift the championship trophy at the MLBB Goes to School Grand Tournament, and I finally understood just how much had changed.

My journey began months earlier when I joined the MLBB Teacher Ambassador Program, an official initiative by MOONTON Games Indonesia. The program trains educators like me to lead healthy gaming activities inside schools. I was not there to turn children into professional players. My job was to mentor them, organise internal competitions, and help them balance gaming with homework, family time, and emotional well-being. More than 300 schools across Surabaya and surrounding East Java regions have joined this teacher-led framework, and all participating schools are qualified to host official MLBB tournaments under trained educators.

At first, some parents were skeptical. They asked me whether esports would distract their children from study. I explained the structure: teachers supervise every practice, students must maintain their academic performance, and every match includes lessons on sportsmanship, communication, and self-control. Slowly, skepticism turned into support. One mother told me her son had started making his own study schedule just so he could attend practice without falling behind. That was the moment I knew we were building something meaningful.

The road to the grand final was not easy. After our internal school competition, we entered the inter-city tournament. Group matches ran from 1 to 19 December 2025, and my students trained after class, reviewed strategies together, and learned to handle both victory and defeat. Then came the semi-finals and grand final from 8 to 11 January 2026 in Surabaya. It was the first time the tournament had been hosted in the city, and the atmosphere was electric.

Representatives from the Surabaya City Education Department, the East Java provincial government, KONI, and PBESI attended the event. Their presence showed that school esports is no longer treated as a fringe activity. Febrina Kusumawati, Head of the Surabaya City Education Office, represented Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi at the event. She said the program is held in a positive environment to educate students about healthy gaming while developing their esports talents. She stressed that students are tested not only on playing ability but also on sportsmanship, teamwork, discipline, and emotional control. Those words echoed what we practiced daily.

During the final match, my team fell behind early. In the past, some of them might have argued or given up. This time, they took a breath, communicated calmly, adjusted their rotations, and fought back. That moment mattered more to me than the trophy.

For winning the elementary division, our team received more than IDR 50 million in education support and other prizes. We were also invited to attend the M7 World Championship in Jakarta, accompanied by teachers and parents. The junior high school division was won by SMP Kristen Petra 1, and all finalists were recognised for their sportsmanship and commitment to the Teacher Ambassador values.

M. Hadi Wawan Guntoro, Head of the East Java Youth and Sports Office, represented Governor of East Java Khofifah Hadi Indar Parawansa. He expressed appreciation for MOONTON Games choosing East Java as a pilot location and said he hopes this positive activity can reach all 38 regencies and cities across East Java. MOONTON Games is already looking ahead. After learning from this East Java edition, the company plans to expand MLBB Goes to School to other regions, including Central Java, with the long-term goal of making safe and structured esports experiences accessible to students across Indonesia.

As MLBB approaches its 10th anniversary with a strong presence in Indonesia and growing recognition on global sporting stages, I see this program as something bigger than a tournament. It uses a game my students already love as a tool to teach essential skills:

• Teamwork 🗣️

• Communication 🎯

• Leadership 🏆

• Strategic thinking 🧠

• Responsible technology use 📱

It does not aim to produce professional esports players. It aims to nurture resilient, collaborative, and confident young people. Looking at my students celebrating with their parents, I knew we had won something far more valuable than a trophy. We had built a school community where gaming and education can grow together.