Joshua “Ch4knu” Mangilog is set to make his highly anticipated return in MPL Season 12.
The confirmation of his comeback was made by none other than Smart Omega Coach Patrick “E2max” Caidic, who has been a long-time partner in the professional scene.
Ch4knu decided to sit out MPL Philippines Season 11, during which Smart Omega struggled and finished in 5th-6th place after being eliminated by eventual runner-up, Blacklist International.
Ch4knu’s return comes just a day after Team SMG announced the addition of former Smart Omega roamer, Deomark “Mikko” Tabangay, as a stand-in member for their Snapdragon Pro Series Season 3 Southeast Asia roster.
The Hall of Famer’s return is a much-needed boost for Smart Omega, as they have experienced early playoff exits in the MPL PH for two consecutive seasons following their runner-up finish in Season 9, which propelled them to a third-place finish in the MLBB Southeast Asian Cup 2022 in Malaysia.
His last professional appearance was in Season 10 when Omega squandered a 2-0 lead against Bren Esports in the playoffs, resulting in their failure to make it to the top four for the first time in his career.
His previous worst finishes were 4th places, which he achieved during Season 4 and 5 with Execration. Ch4knu’s team consistently ranked in the top three from Season 6 until Season 9, and they even clinched the MSC 2021 title.
