Who is Lamaj, Hadji’s Cousin and Twisted Minds’ Rookie Gold Laner?

Before stepping into the world of professional esports, Jamal Dimati, aka Lamaj, was just another player grinding through ranked games. His childhood dream, however, had nothing to do with gaming. He once envisioned finishing his studies in Arabic—something his parents also deeply wished for him.

The 20-year-old Jamal comes from a big family, in which he is eldest of ten siblings.

How is life with nine siblings? 

“Mahirap din po, financially,” Lamaj told ALL-STAR. 

With Lamaj’s entry into professional esports, he hopes to lighten the burden on his family. His parents are entrepreneurs who sell phones, but he admits the family struggles to make ends meet.

“Tutulong din po ako sa expenses ng family ko. Naramdaman ko po nanahihirapan yung magulang namin na buhayin kami.” 

According to him sometimes Hadji would help when he has extra to spare. But he said Hadji’s always been there for him, especially when he needed help to improve in MLBB, even when Hadji was not yet an MPL player. 

“Naimpluwensiyahan po ako ni Hadji maglaro ng MLBB. Noong nakapasok po siya sa MPL, sobrang natuwa po ako dahil alam ko pong pinaghirapan po niya iyon. Nakikita ko po siya noon na palaging naggga-grind. Kaya po ako na-inspire maglaro dahil sa kanya,” said Lamaj. 

But now that everybody will know him as Hadji’s cousin, how can prove that he’s just as deserving to be in the MPL? 

“Mas sisipagan ko pa po maglaro at mas gagalingan ko pa po.”

But he’s not here just because of Hadji. In fact, Coach Bon Chan of Twisted Minds assured us Jamal is quite a potent gold laner. 

“Tinatalo kami niyan!” said Coach Bon Chan. 

“Sa scirm po iyon,” explained Jamal. “Meta pa po si Karrie noon, tank build.”

Lamaj knows the road ahead won’t be easy. But he’s not here to be just “Hadji’s cousin.” He’s here to make his own mark in the MPL.

“Gusto ko pong patunayan na kaya ko rin, na deserve ko rin.”