Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports kicks off the road to the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) with the tournament draws for the Mid Season Cup (MSC) and MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI)! Set to be the tournaments' most competitive editions to date, 39 of the world's best teams will go head-to-head to be crowned the next MLBB world champions. With revamped formats, expanded regional representation, and a combined prize pool of USD 3,500,000, MLBB Esports brings the spirit of One Game, Two Champions to the world's largest multi-title esports event.
Crowning the next Kings of MLBB Esports
From 10 to 13 July, the journey to MSC at EWC 25 begins with the Wild Card, where eight teams will compete for the final spot in the Main Stage. With a record 16 participating regions—the highest to date—MSC at EWC 25 marks the tournament's most competitive edition yet. This year, dedicated Wild Card slots were introduced for both Japan and Vietnam, welcoming new blood into the fold. With its expanded competitive landscape and global reach, the tournament will see teams pushed to their limits to be crowned the next MLBB World Champions.
The following is the MSC at EWC 25 Wild Card draw:
Fans will be particularly excited for the Group B matchups, featuring Zeta Division (Japan). This edition marks Japan's first return to the MLBB world stage since the M2 World Championship. MSC at EWC 25 features a new tournament format designed to elevate the competitiveness of MLBB Esports. With this revamped structure, teams will have to #EncounterTheUnknown through unpredictable matchups that test their adaptability and resilience. Only the strongest Wild Card team will rise and advance to the Main Stage.
The quest for MLBB's new Queens begins
From 15 to 19 July, the quest to crown the new Queens of MLBB begins, as 16 women's teams take the stage to showcase their #Limitless potential. With the addition of four new teams to the lineup, the race for the MWI throne promises to be the most fiercely contested yet.
The following is the MWI at EWC 25 Group Stage draw:
Fans will be most excited for the Group A and C matchups, featuring the biggest names in MLBB Women's Esports—Team Vitality (Indonesia) and Natus Vincere PH (Philippines). Reflecting the rising competitiveness of MLBB women's esports, MWI at EWC 25 features a revamped format that echoes the intensity of MSC. The new structure highlights the growing professionalism of the women's ecosystem where the world's best teams will compete for the most prestigious MLBB women's title. With qualifiers spanning 57 regions, MWI at EWC 25 will be the largest women's tournament at the world's largest multi-title esports event. The tournament serves as an inclusive platform for women to prove they stand amongst the world's best esports talent.
One Game, Two Champions on the world stage
With new formats and expanded global participation, MLBB Esports reaffirms its position as the benchmark for esports competitiveness. Together, MSC and MWI will feature a combined prize pool of USD 3,500,000—record-breaking amounts for each tournament. MSC at EWC 25 presents a USD 3,000,000 prize pool, matching the record high in MLBB Esports. Meanwhile, MWI at EWC 25 boasts a USD 500,000 prize pool—one of the largest in women's esports history.
At the inaugural EWC, MLBB Esports saw multiple historic breakthroughs. According to Esports Charts, MSC 2024 was the most-watched tournament at EWC 2024 with over 2.38 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV) and 29 million Hours Watched (HW). Meanwhile, MWI 2024 made history as the only women's esports tournament at EWC 2024 and became its most-watched edition with over 2.5 million HW.
Tiger Xu, Global Head of Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "We're proud to partner with the Esports World Cup Foundation as we work to elevate the global esports scene. As MLBB Esports continues to grow in competitiveness, doing so at the world's largest multi-title event allows us to showcase the depth and skill of our athletes on the world stage. It's always been our goal to set the benchmark for competitiveness through innovative formats, expanded regional participation, and by fostering a professional environment where esports talent can thrive. Together, this partnership reflects our vision to elevate MLBB Esports and shape the future of esports worldwide."
"Mobile titles like MLBB are a cornerstone of the global esports ecosystem, with one of the largest and most enduring mobile communities," said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. "Mobile gaming is accessible and inclusive by nature—bringing players from every background into competition, powering immersive experiences, and driving the rise of multi-platform esports. Together with MOONTON Games, we're proud to offer a global stage for talent at every level through MSC at MWI at EWC 25—and we can't wait to see the world's best compete in Riyadh this summer."
MLBB Esports debuts Time Rewind
At MSC and MWI, MOONTON Games will debut Time Rewind—a new tool designed to maintain fair play in the event of unexpected disruptions. By allowing games to revert to an earlier point using back-end data, the feature aims to preserve the fairness and competitive flow of each game. Moving beyond traditional pause or rematch options, Time Rewind represents an initial step toward strengthening competitive integrity in MLBB tournaments. Its debut at MSC and MWI at EWC 25 reflects MOONTON Games' ongoing efforts to enhance the competitive experience for athletes, teams, and fans.
Tiger added: "As MLBB Esports continues to grow, adapting our infrastructure is key to supporting fair competition. Time Rewind is still an initial step toward strengthening competitive integrity during unexpected disruptions. As this is the first time we're introducing it internationally, we will closely monitor its performance and refine the tool to ensure the best experience for players and fans."
