M7: Team Spirit’s Sunset Lover, a Multi-Time Wrestling Champion
Before Sunset Lover became known internationally as Team Spirit’s electrifying Mid Laner,his first competitive arena was far from online battlefields. From the age of 7 to 17, Sunset Lover was a Greco-Roman wrestler, honing a skillset that would later shape his competitive instincts in esports.
Growing up in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Карачаево-Черкесская Республика) in Russia, Kemiran Kochkarov (aka Sunset Lover) was immersed in one of the world’s most storied wrestling cultures. Wrestling,especially Greco-Roman, is deeply rooted in the Caucasus region, where strength, balance, and tactical aggression are also cultural values.
Sunset Lover’s Wrestling Medal Runs and Match Wins
Throughout his childhood and early teens, Kemiran was a medalist at regional and national youth competitions in Greco-Roman wrestling. At significant youth events like the North Caucasus Federal District Championships (СКФО), he captured gold, dominating his final match with a commanding 13–3 score and demonstrating technical prowess well above his age group.
That performance wasn’t isolated: earlier in 2017 at the VIII Summer Spartakiad of Students, he also earned silver, showcasing both grit and rapid tactical development on the mat.
These podium finishes weren’t fringe results; they placed him among the region’s top junior competitors. In a wrestling heartland where even young athletes rack up medals and national attention, Kemiran’s results stood out.
Wrestling’s Imprint on a Gamer’s Mindset
This decade of competitive wrestling, a discipline where every move is countered, every opening is seized, and mental control is as vital as raw strength, laid an unlikely but powerful foundation for Sunset Lover’s esports philosophy. Many elite wrestlers learn to:
- Read opponents’ tendencies and adjust tactics mid-match.
- Stay calm under high pressure, turning early disadvantages into comeback opportunities.
- Maintain peak physical and mental conditioning for long bouts.
Those traits translate surprisingly well to MOBA competition, where rapid decision-making, psychological poise, and adaptive strategy define champions.
Transition to Esports: Early Promise at M1
By age 18, after nearly a decade in Greco-Roman wrestling, Kemiran shifted his competitive energy to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. He first appeared on the international scene during the M1 World Championship, competing under the Deus Vult banner. Though still early in his esports career, that appearance marked the beginning of what would become a meteoric rise with his mechanical flair and game sense rapidly catching the attention of top organizations.
Now: M7 World Championship and Beyond
At M7, Sunset Lover’s performance underscored how edgy, adaptable, and battle-tested he has become. Many World Championship-caliber players develop purely within gaming ecosystems, but his unique backstory offers a rare narrative in esports: a champion shaped by two vastly different competitive worlds.
From grappling opponents on the mat to outmaneuvering them in the mid lane, Sunset Lover’s biography shows how early discipline and competitive grit can shape next-generation esports stars.
