Flap, Kyle aim to forge own identities

Alta Sportsa month ago · 359 views

Flap, Kyle aim to forge own identities image

Photo: MPL Philippines

By Tiffany Dela Cruz

In Philippine Mobile Legends history, few in-game names carried as much weight as KarlTzy.

When David “FlapTzy” Canon and Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno rose together under Bren Esports, they were not just teammates — they were cornerstones of a dynasty. They ruled MPL Philippines Season 6, then etched their names into history by conquering the M2 World Championship.

Back then, “Flap” became “FlapTzy” — a subtle nod to the young jungler, who also became one of his closest friends. The suffix “Tzy” became more than letters. It became a symbol of a golden era, of dominance, of a team that shocked the world and delivered the country its first-ever world title.

But legacies evolve. And sometimes, to grow, you have to let go.

Stepping out of the GOAT’s shadow

For FlapTzy, the decision to revert to simply “Flap” was not about erasing history. It was about defining the next chapter.

The “Tzy” in his IGN once represented camaraderie, a shared climb to the summit. Yet over time, it also became a reminder — of comparisons, of associations, of a career constantly tethered to another name.

“Someone told us, like, as a challenge — what if we remove the ‘Tzy’ so we can truly build our own legacy under our real names,” the Team Falcons PH star said during the MPL PH Season 17 media day.

Photo: MPL Philippines

“So that other names won’t always be brought up — like where our ‘Tzy’ came from, from Karl. When that was said to me, I thought, yeah, why not? Why not create my own path so that when people say ‘Flap,’ it’s really just me. No one else gets dragged into it,” he added.

Long before the championships with Bren Esports and Falcon Esports, before the world titles and packed arenas, he was simply “Flap” — a young streamer grinding quietly, chasing a dream that felt distant but not impossible.

That was the name that first appeared on livestream notifications. The name viewers saw when he streamed for 12 hours straight, honing his mechanics, studying matchups, refining his instincts in ranked games long after midnight. Back then, there were no trophies, no analyst desks breaking down his plays — just a kid, a screen, and relentless ambition.

Flap had long proven he was more than a side story to KarlTzy’s brilliance.

He had grown into his own identity — a veteran, a world-class EXP laner, a player capable of carrying games.. Dropping the suffix was symbolic. It was him reclaiming the original name he started with, the one that existed before championships, before global stages, before the world knew who they were.

It was not rejection. It was independence.

A name carried by memory

For Michael “KyleTzy” Sayson, the change was even more layered.

Like Flap, he once carried the “Tzy” — inspired by KarlTzy, an idol he looked up to. The suffix was admiration stitched into identity. In a scene where young players grow up watching legends, adding those three letters felt like honoring the path paved before them.

But growth demands authenticity.

Kyle chose to drop the suffix and stand simply as “Kyle.” On the surface, it mirrored Flap’s decision: a desire to carve his own lane, to be measured not against someone else’s legacy but against his own potential.

“Me, I have two reasons why I removed the ‘Tzy.’ First, just like Flap, when I first entered the MPL, Karl was already my idol. I added ‘Tzy’ right away. But as time went on, I started building my own champions and my own name,” he said.

“Now, the reason I removed the ‘Tzy’ is that I want to create my own legacy. So that I’m no longer being mentioned in Karl’s interviews, or when I’m being interviewed, Karl’s name is always brought up.”

Photo: MPL Philippines

Yet for Kyle, it went deeper than competition.

His real name is Michael. But at home, to the person who mattered most, he was never Michael.

He was “Kyle.”

It was what his grandmother called him — a name born from affection, perhaps from “My Kyle,” perhaps from a loving twist on Michael. However it came to be, it stuck. It was intimate. Personal. Sacred.

When she passed away, the name carried a different weight.

Choosing “Kyle” was not branding. It was remembrance.

“And then the second reason — with my new IGN, I’m dedicating it to my grandmother who just passed away last month,” Kyle said.

“She’s the one who gave me the name Kyle. Actually, my real name is Michael. The story goes that my grandmother didn’t like the name Michael, so she started calling me Kyle. That’s how Kyle became my nickname.”

It was carrying her voice with him onto every stage, into every arena, across every broadcast where his name would be shouted by casters and fans alike. It was a quiet tribute — one that millions might read on a screen without knowing the story behind it.

And maybe that’s the beauty of it.

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