Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Singapore is set to transform the local esports scene with its most ambitious changes yet. MPL Singapore Season 9 will mark the launch of several first-time initiatives, including a nationwide roving league, weekly community team participation, and a talent and ambassador search programme, all designed to bring the league closer to the grassroots.
Season 9 is set to be the tournament's most community-driven edition, with more opportunities than ever for players, fans, and aspiring talent to be involved. These changes aim to strengthen Singapore's esports ecosystem and rally support for for the local scene by placing the community at its heart. Jointly organised by MOONTON Games and Pulse Nova Entertainment, MPL Singapore is the nation's standalone professional esports league.
Ushering in a new era of MPL Singapore
For the first time, MPL Singapore Season 9 will bring the Regular Season directly to the community with a roving format! From 10 to 25 May, fans will have the chance to witness MLBB esports action at various locations across the nation, including Bukit Panjang Plaza, Westgate, and Lot One. This expansion beyond a single venue creates more touchpoints for the nation to engage with the competition and rally behind local talent.
With the goal of integrating grassroots talent into the esports scene, the Regular Season will feature professional and community teams competing side-by-side for the first time. The Regular Season has been revamped and will introduce four stages: the Seeded Stage, the Challenger Qualifiers, the Challenger Stage, and the Last Chance Qualifiers. These additional competitive avenues further strengthens the local talent pool by giving emerging esports talent a platform to shine alongside professionals.
The Seeded Stage (Saturdays), will feature familiar rivalries as the top five invited MPL Singapore teams go head-to-head. Simultaneously, up to 64 community teams will compete in the Challenger Qualifiers, with the top teams advancing to the Challenger Stage (Sundays). The Challenger Stage serves as a platform to nurture emerging talent—giving the top four community teams a chance to compete against the invited MPL Singapore teams.
At the end of the Regular Season, the top four invited MPL Singapore teams will secure direct Playoffs spots, while the fifth-placed MPL team will be ranked against the Challenger Stage community teams. The highest-ranked team will claim a Playoffs spot. This new format underscores the league's commitment to empowering community teams by allowing them to shape the local esports scene.
The remaining four teams will advance to the Last Chance Qualifiers, where new and eliminated community teams can rejoin the battle for the final Playoffs spot. This stage gives community teams a final opportunity to rise up, demonstrating MPL Singapore's commitment to integrate emerging talent into the league. The six teams advancing to the Playoffs will compete for the opportunity to represent the nation at the Esports World Cup (EWC) x MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 and a share of the SGD 40,000 prize pool. MLBB lovers and community teams eager to participate and challenge the local veterans can sign up here.
More information on the format for the Regular Season watch the video explainer here.
MPL Singapore launches nationwide talent search!
The league will be launching the MPL Singapore Talent Search, it's most-extensive talent-search programme to date, designed to uncover the next generation of esports talent. Beyond providing a pathway for aspiring esports athletes, the programme opens doors for individuals to gain hands-on experience in roles such as hosting, casting, content creation, and event production. In addition, the league will also introduce the MPL SG Ambassador Programme to collaborate with emerging KOLs and grow the local esports scene together. The programmes are dedicated to nurturing talent from the ground up, equipping participants with essential skills, mentorship, and industry exposure. For more information, learn more about the programmes here.
Providing insight into the strategic direction behind the league's changes, Daniel Chew, Head of Esports for Singapore and Cambodia at MOONTON Games, said: "The changes for MPL Singapore highlight our focus on empowering the community and building a sustainable foundation for Singapore's esports scene. By reallocating resources and investing in grassroots initiatives, we aim to engage Singaporeans in esports in new and meaningful ways. By embedding the community within league, we're ensuring that MPL Singapore evolves to better serve players and fans alike. These changes go beyond immediate growth—they're designed to create lasting impacts for the future moving us toward a more inclusive and robust esports ecosystem. The goal is to strengthen MPL Singapore's connection with the community, provide local talent with opportunities to rise, and ultimately, drive Singapore's esports ecosystem forward."
Jayf Soh, Chief Executive Officer at Pulse Nova Entertainment, said: "With MPL Singapore Season 9, we're taking a bold step towards transforming how the local community engages with the league. The introduction of these new initiatives goes beyond competition—it's about fostering a deeper connection between the league and Singaporeans. For instance, the new Regular Season format creates multiple entry points for grassroots talents and fans to get involved in MLBB esports and goes deeper into the heartlands with its roving format. With these new changes, we're ensuring that the league evolves alongside community needs and is representative of Singapore's gaming and esports culture."
Rallying the community behind Singapore's representatives
MPL Singapore is more than just a local tournament, it serves as a pathway for local esports teams to shine globally. With a dedicated Main Stage slot at EWC x MSC 2025, this season's champions will fly Singapore's flag at the world's largest multi-title esports event, showcasing the nation's talent on the world stage. Last year, Team Flash made history with a top-four finish at EWC x MSC 2024, matching Singapore's best-ever performance at an international MLBB tournament. Now, MPL Singapore is calling on the community to rally behind this season's representatives, uniting in support as they take on the world with the roar of the lion behind them.
Season 9 sees Head & Shoulders join the league as Esports Partner, marking the continuation of their support for local esports. Having worked with MPL Singapore in previous seasons, this partnership highlights Head & Shoulders' ongoing commitment to enhancing the esports experience and supporting the growth of the local scene. This season, Head & Shoulders has unveiled new limited-edition shampoo packaging, featuring fan-favourite MLBB characters, Zilong and Layla, on selected variants – ready to have dandruff and itch WIPED OUT with every wash.
CapitaLand joins MPL Singapore as the Official Venue Partner, helping to power the league's first-ever roving Regular Season, making esports more accessible across the nation.
As the nation's only professional esports league, MPL Singapore has played a key role in shaping the local esports and gaming scene. From Seasons 4 to 8, MOONTON Games partnered with Zenway Productions to establish the league's foundation, including key milestones as the inclusion of the inaugural MVP Trophy in Season 6. MPL Singapore has consistently championed innovation and uplifted local talent—that same spirit now drives the community-focused direction of the upcoming Season 9.
