TLPH lift the MSC at EWC 25 trophy as its champions. (Photo Credit: Esports World Cup)
History was written today for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Esports! Team Liquid PH (TLPH) secured the Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) after defeating defending MSC champions, Selangor Red Giants OG Esports (SRG.OG), 4-1 in front of a full-house STC Esports Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
TLPH's latest piece of silverware completes their MLBB trophy cabinet; they write themselves into history as the first team to win every major MLBB title. They also secured USD 1,000,000 of the MSC at EWC 25's life-changing USD 3,000,000 prize pool, the joint-highest in MLBB Esports.
TLPH's powerhouse lineup includes Alston "Sanji" Pabico (Mid Laner), Jay Pee "Jaypee" Gonzales Dela Cruz (Roamer), John "Perkziva" Haven Garcia Sumawan (Substitute), Kiel "Oheb" Calvin Que Soriano (Gold Laner), Karl "KarlTzy" Gabriel Dacer Nepomuceno (Jungler), Sanford "Sanford" Marin Vinuya (EXP Laner).
The star-studded roster features icons who have lifted world titles and dominated MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines. Their road to MSC was paved with grit, beginning with a 4-3 win over reigning world champions, ONIC PH, during the MPL Philippines Season 15 Grand Finals. Coming into MSC as one of the favourites, TLPH maintained an unbeaten match record throughout the tournament. With their MLBB division securing top honours, Team Liquid now sits atop the EWC Club Championship Ranking with 3,200 points (as of 2 August).
KarlTzy raises his arms in victory after TLPH's win in the Grand Finals. (Photo Credit: Esports World Cup)
At the heart of TLPH's championship run is KarlTzy, the face of MLBB Esports. The MSC title had long eluded him—until today, when he finally achieved his Career Grand Slam. KarlTzy has now won both of MLBB's international titles in the flagship M Series and today, the MSC at EWC 25, as well as four MPL Philippines titles.
Sanford holds up the MVP plaque after putting in an irrepressible performance in the Grand Finals. (Photo Credit: Esports World Cup)
It was Sanford who shone brightest on the Grand Finals stage, earning the Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours and an additional USD 10,000. Sanford was recently featured in Level Up, the recently-launched Amazon Prime docuseries on the stories of adversities and triumphs of esports athletes leading up to EWC 24. Sanford's episode explored the prodigy's struggles as the family's main breadwinner after his father suffered a stroke earlier last year. Despite the pressure, he rose to the challenge, representing the Philippines on the world's biggest esports stage.
SRG.OG's runner-up finish marked a milestone of its own as they become the first team to reach consecutive MSC Grand Finals—a reflection of their #PantangMengalah spirit (meaning "Never Give Up" in Bahasa Malaysia). The Malaysian representatives take home the USD 500,000 prize. Meanwhile, ONIC PH (ONPH) rounded out the podium after their 3-2 victory over ONIC ID (ONIC) in the third-place decider earlier in the day.
MSC makes EWC history
MSC at EWC 25 Viewership Insights (Photo Credit: Esports Charts)
MSC has rewritten EWC history, shattering the event's viewership milestones! With 3,067,670 Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), MSC at EWC 25 stands as the most-watched tournament in the event's history, according to Esports Charts. This edition also surpassed all MSC at EWC viewership benchmarks, clocking 50,318,603 Hours Watched (HW) and 599,626 Average Concurrent Viewers (ACV). This achievement reflects the continued global popularity of MLBB Esports and solidifies MSC as a flagship EWC event.
"MSC at EWC 25 set a new benchmark for the series and the global esports calendar. Surpassing 3 million peak viewers, it became the third most popular esports event of the year. Notably, TikTok's contribution to MLBB viewership continues to grow, with its share for MSC at EWC 25 increasing by 16% this year. What's also important is that the tournament is the #1 event in EWC history. It's a clear sign of how MLBB Esports continues to grow its global footprint and captivate broader audiences worldwide. This milestone is not only a win for the title but also a major validation of the MSC–EWC collaboration as a blueprint for top-tier, cross-series competition," said Artyom Odintsov, Co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts.
A new standard for esports excellence
MLBB set a new benchmark for global esports with the most expansive and competitive MSC to date at EWC 25. Featuring 16 regions—the most in MSC history—this landmark edition united rising challengers and returning legends to igniting fresh rivalries. Amongst the standouts was ZETA Division, who led Japan's long-awaited return to the international MLBB spotlight after a five-year absence. Meanwhile, Wild Card champions, Virtus.pro, impressed with their rise through the MLBB Continental Championships Season 5 Qualifiers to secure the final Main Stage spot. Their underdog journey embodies the spirit of the expanded MSC—where emerging regions are worthy contenders shaping competitive esports.
This historic edition also ushered in a new era of competitive intensity that pushed the world's best MLBB teams beyond their limits. Reflecting the tournament's evolution, MSC at EWC 25 introduced a Third Place Match, a reworked format, and a steeper path to victory. The overhaul demanded greater strategy and adaptability from teams, affirming MLBB Esports as the gold standard for competitive excellence.
Tiger Xu, Global Head of Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "This edition of MSC is the result of years we've spent nurturing the ecosystem. For all of us at MOONTON Games, it's a reflection of how far the scene has come. MLBB Esports has become a platform where athletes have the power to change the face of history. Over the years, we've seen our athletes rise above expectations and push the limits of what's possible. That's the power of a global esports ecosystem—one that continuously shapes the future of esports!"
A historic year for MLBB at EWC 25
Under the banner One Game, Two Champions, MLBB took centre stage at EWC 2025. With two international tournaments—MSC and the MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI)—MLBB celebrated the talent and diversity of its global esports ecosystem.
Alongside MSC's success, MLBB continues to be a trailblazer for women's esports on the world stage, having rewritten the industry narrative for women's esports with MWI. According to Esports Charts, Team Vitality's Grand Finals victory in the MWI at EWC 25 had 468,976 PCV—making it the most-watched women's tournament of 2025. In 2024, MWI stood as the sole women's tournament at the inaugural EWC. This year, it returned as the event's largest women's competition with a record-breaking 16-team lineup (up from 12) and 57-region qualifiers (up from 46). This year's MWI also saw the debut of Saudi Arabia's first women's esports athletes at the EWC—Lyrx, Lunar, and Livin from Twisted Minds Orchid. These cement its role as a beacon of inclusivity, representation, and diversity.
"MLBB continues to be a cornerstone of the global esports ecosystem, with one of the largest and most passionate mobile communities in the world,” said Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at the Esports World Cup Foundation. "Mobile gaming is accessible and inclusive by nature, bringing players from every background into competition, powering unforgettable experiences, and driving the rise of esports globally. Together with MOONTON Games, we're proud to have built a global stage through the MSC and MWI at EWC 25, where both legends and new stars can rise. Congratulations to TLPH and VIT on their incredible victories. These tournaments are a reminder of what's possible when players are given the platform to shine, creating life-changing opportunities and inspiring the next generation across every region."
Together, MSC and MWI reflect MOONTON Games' ongoing commitment to nurturing a diverse and inclusive competitive ecosystem. These tournaments shine a spotlight on world-class talent to inspire the next generation of aspiring esports athletes. From grassroots to pro, MLBB offers athletes from all walks of life a pathway to the world stage. Backed by a robust tournament infrastructure and record-breaking viewership, MLBB has solidified its place amongst the world's leading esports titles. According to Esports Charts, MLBB was the most-watched mobile esports title of 2024, reflecting its continued rise as a leading force in global esports.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) and the Esports World Cup (EWC) have been catalysts for national development, affirmed government leaders from Malaysia and the Philippines during a press conference held on the sidelines of EWC 25 yesterday (1 August).
For more information about the press conference,
View the official press release here: https://en.moonton.com/news/226.html
Watch the full press conference here (you may publish video cutdowns of the press conference under 1 minute per clip): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J9tI81NctapFlVIEldV3NaC5dHh7Y0y_/view
