From pro gamer to PhD-wielding deputy dean

Compiled by C. ARUNO, CASSANDRA VICTOR and R. ARAVINTHAN

A FORMER professional gamer is now deputy dean of the Electrical Technology and Smart Industry Faculty at a varsity in Surabaya, Indonesia, reported Utusan Malaysia.

Dimas Adiputra, 29, who used to play the popular trading card game Yu-Gi-Oh – based on the manga of the same name – graduated with a PhD in Systems Electronics Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, he moved to Kuala Lumpur in 2015 after receiving an offer to continue his studies at UTM.

“I agreed to accept the offer and moved here to participate in the official Yu-Gi-Oh competition because in Indonesia, there was no official competition.

“I continued my studies while pursuing my career as a professional gamer and also took part in the Yu-Gi-Oh World Championship in Singapore in 2017 where I reached the semi-finals.

“At the same time, I was also the Indonesian Yu-Gi-Oh champion,” he said during UTM’s 66th Convocation Ceremony.

Dimas said initially, his father felt that there was no future in gaming.

“He finally allowed me to pursue my interest but asked that I focused on my studies at the same time.

“In 2018, I decided to leave gaming and focus on my studies,” said Dimas, who is now the father of a two-year-old boy.

He also advised young people, especially those who want to make a career in games, not to set aside education in pursuit of their ambition.

> Berita Harian Online reported that actor Ungku Ismail Aziz admitted that he was getting close to actress Nad Zainal before she was hospitalised in critical condition.

The 36-year-old said they started getting closer after Nad’s divorce earlier this year and while filming the drama Cina Buta.

“Then, I invited Nad to record a travelogue. I know it’s hard to find an actor who can do this, but Nad agreed and liked it. She also has the qualities to make the travelogue a success. Our relationship got closer,” he said.

The 32-year-old actress, whose real name is Farah Nadia Zainal Abidin, was taken to hospital a few days ago after she complained about pain in her chest and shortness of breath.

The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.