RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA, 16 June – Team Falcons and Twisted Minds will soar into the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2024 as representatives of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) after proving themselves the strongest two teams across the land. Both teams secured their spots after battling their way into the Grand Finals of the fifth season of the MLBB Professional League (MPL) MENA, which saw Team Falcons take their first-ever league crown yesterday (15 June) after defeating Twisted Minds 4-1.

Team Falcons and Twisted Minds will now bring the home-ground buff to the MSC 2024, held in conjunction with the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this year, where a life-changing, one-time USD 3,000,000 prize pool awaits. 

All eyes on MPL MENA: viewership records smashed after overhaul 

Following an overhaul of the league in April, MPL MENA achieved new audience viewership benchmarks by all metrics this season. According to Esports Charts, Season 5 had 35,365 Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), 4,198 Average Viewers (AV), and 438,280 (Hours Watched), surpassing all previous records set by the league. In particular, this season's PCV benchmark is more than four times higher than the previous high of 7,961 PCV set last season.

Credit: Esports Charts

Third time's the charm for the Falcons

Team Falcons' victory over Twisted Minds in the Grand Finals will be sweet revenge after the Falcons were out-witted by them twice previously this season – first during the Regular Season (1-2), and again in the Upper Bracket Semi Finals (0-2). Despite their second defeat dropping them to the lower brackets, Team Falcons showed resilience and mental fortitude to fight their way to the summit after overcoming first R8 Esports (2-0) and then Geekay Esports (3-0) in comprehensive fashion. Their victory pockets them USD 30,000, while Twisted Minds take home USD 13,500.

Team Falcons' Jaylord "Goodnight" Bacog was named MVP of the Match after controlling the midlane throughout the series. It was a case of "third time's the charm" for the Filipino, who finally secured the league title after twice coming short in the Grand Finals previously – with Team Falcons in the 2023 MPL MENA Fall Split and with Okami Esports in the 2023 MPL MENA Spring Split. 

MPL MENA Season 5 was organised by MOONTON Games and supported by the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) and Global Presenting Partner, Qiddiya. The fifth edition of the region's premier MLBB esports event brought together the region's top 10 teams to compete for a USD 100,000 prize pool. The Grand Finals were held at VOV Gaming at ROSHN Front