RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesian esport team ONIC kept the country's hopes alive at the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after securing a semifinal berth, moving one step closer to the international title.

ONIC staged a comeback victory over Aurora Gaming, rallying from behind to defeat the Turkish team 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Paris, France, on Thursday, July 30, 2026,

Aurora took control early in the opening game. ONIC player Kairi admitted the defeat was caused by communication problems within the team. "In game one, it was just a miscommunication," Kairi said after the match on Thursday, July 30, as quoted by Antara.

Aurora maintained an aggressive approach from the drafting phase and dominated objective control and rotations, wrapping up the opening game in around nine minutes.

ONIC responded in the second game with a more disciplined performance. The Indonesian side neutralized Aurora's early aggression through a hero composition that effectively disrupted the Turkish team's frontline.

The adjustment paid off as ONIC controlled the team fights and leveled the series at 1-1 in about 11 minutes.

Aurora regained the advantage in game three with coordinated rotations and effective targeting of ONIC's key players, moving ahead 2-1 and earning match point. "In game three, they really understood their draft. That was the challenge," Kairi added.

Facing elimination, ONIC displayed resilience in game four. The match lasted more than 20 minutes before ONIC won a decisive team fight, wiped out Aurora, and destroyed the opposing base to force a deciding fifth game.

ONIC carried that momentum into the final game, controlling the pace from the start. Kairi's performance using Fanny proved decisive in several crucial team fights, while the team's coordination prevented Aurora from mounting a comeback.

The 3-2 victory also avenged ONIC's previous defeat to Aurora Gaming earlier in the tournament.

Looking ahead to the semifinal against Team Spirit, Kairi said ONIC would prepare as usual without introducing major tactical changes. "We'll prepare the same way we do for every team. There isn't any special strategy," Kairi continued.

However, he hinted that ONIC still has a few strategies yet to be revealed. "There are a few. You'll see," he concluded. ***