JOHOR BARU: A former coffee shop worker from Johor has won a world mobile phone repair championship in Thailand, proving that skill and perseverance can take Malaysians to the global stage.
Teo Hock Soon, 32, from Batu Pahat, clinched the title at the 2025 YCS World Master Cup Thailand Station in September, China Press reported.
He defeated international competitors to take home RM35,000 in prize money, bringing pride to Malaysia.
The two-day competition tested speed and precision in dismantling and reassembling high-end Apple devices.
In the final round, Teo outperformed a strong Chinese contender by completing the iPhone 16 Pro Max motherboard assembly in 25 minutes.
He said he had no prior experience handling the model before the final.
“I only practised briefly on the morning of the competition and relied on experience and a calm mindset,” he said.
Teo said international phone repair competitions have long been popular in China but have only gained traction in Southeast Asia in recent years.
His journey began cautiously in May, when he attended a local competition in Kuala Lumpur only as an assistant due to low confidence.
In July, he competed in Indonesia as Malaysia’s sole representative, finishing second with a 10-minute-51-second assembly time.
Teo began repairing phones at 21 and is largely self-taught, later opening several shops that failed due to weak business skills.
“My goal was clear; earn, save and continue learning technical and management skills,” he said.
After working in Singapore and returning to Malaysia post-pandemic, he restarted his business in Skudai.
Teo said he will no longer compete, focusing instead on training apprentices, and has been invited to a show match in Shenzhen next May.
“Where you fall is where you rise,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
