According to sources close to
Sheep Esports, former Wolves Esports Head Coach Chong
"Fayde" Hoc Wah is set to join
XLG Esports as Assistant Coach, marking his return to the organization after a mixed period away from the team. His recent career has been defined by several short spells, including a brief stint with Ninjas In Pyjamas in mid-2023, where he was unable to fully establish himself before moving on to a new opportunity.
Fayde then joined XLG as an Assistant Coach. There, the Malaysian coach achieved what was, at the time, the greatest accomplishment of his career by guiding his team to victory at Ascension China 2024, securing promotion to the VCT. He subsequently joined Wolves Esports as Head Coach on a contract running through April 2026. After a disappointing Kickoff campaign, Wolves managed a remarkable turnaround. Finishing third in Stage 1, the team qualified for Masters Toronto and went on to secure a podium in its first-ever international tournament appearance.
An opposite dynamic
The remainder of Fayde’s tenure with Wolves, however, proved far more difficult. The team underperformed during Stage 2 in 2025 and has endured a disastrous start to the 2026 season. Rapidly eliminated from Kickoff, Fayde’s squad failed to win a single match during Stage 1. Their fortunes did not improve in the Esports World Cup qualifier either, where they became the first team eliminated. Shortly afterward, Fayde was moved to the bench, marking the end of a particularly difficult period for Wolves and their head coach.
For Xi Lai Gaming, bringing Fayde back means adding a coach already familiar with both the roster and the organization’s expectations. The team, moreover, finds itself in a radically different dynamic from the one Fayde leaves behind. Despite two losses in finals, XLG reached both the Kickoff and Stage 1 grand finals, securing qualification for Masters London next month. After several difficult months, Fayde now has reason to look ahead with renewed optimism.
