Boostgate Esports (left) and Team Zone (right) celebrate their qualification to the M7 Swiss Stage
The stage is set for the M7 World Championship (M7) Swiss Stage! Boostgate Esports (BGT) and Team Zone (Z1) secured the two spots from the Wild Card Stage, completing the 16-team lineup competing for the USD 1,000,000 prize pool starting 10 January in Jakarta. The tournament kicked off on a historic note with the Wild Card becoming the most-watched in M Series history, recording 447,251 Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), according to Esports Charts. Set to be the largest M Series to date, the M7 brings the world's best teams home to Indonesia—the heartland of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Esports—under the banner, "Let the World See Us." Hosted by international video game company MOONTON Games, the tournament aims to reinforce Indonesia's role as a leading esports hub and spotlight its rich culture on the global stage.
Wild Card warriors ready for battle
Held at XO Hall, Jakarta, BGT and Z1 rose above eight Wild Card contenders to seize the final two coveted berths in the M7 Swiss Stage. The teams have earned their places to compete at the flagship tournament of 2024's most popular mobile esports title.
Making their international debut, BGT embodied the underdog spirit at the Wild Card Finals, pulling off a stunning upset against the previously undefeated Virtus Pro in a nail-biting 3-2 series. As the match intensified, the crowd rallied behind the newcomers, transforming the entire arena into a sea of support. The victory cemented BGT's Cinderella run and proved that in MLBB Esports, no hierarchy is permanent. The roster is composed of Egemen "Eksi" Önem (EXP Laner), Emre Emin"Wackter" Yılmaz (Roamer), Halil İbrahim "Identity" Kırık (Mid Laner), Mehmed Akif "Kazue" Öztürk (Jungler), Necdet Efe "Rx" Arslan (Gold Laner), Samet "Ruler" Saduç (Substitute).
Joining them is Z1, who impressed throughout the Wild Card Stage and secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Guangzhou Gaming (GZG) in the Finals. Being the youngest team at the M7, Z1 proved themselves as a self-made squad who built their path to international glory without any institutional backing. They kicked off their journey with a massive upset over their home titans, The MongolZ, and bootcamped in Malaysia to prepare for the M7. Z1 delivered the milestone in style, going undefeated across all their Wild Card matches. The Final itself proved to be heart-stopping affair, with Z1 mounting a stunning reverse sweep after falling behind 0-2, clawing back through three consecutive wins in an edge-of-your-seat thriller. The roster consists of Bagabandi "Zxaura" Tegshjargal (Jungler), Enkhbat "AIZN" Munkhharaa (Substitute), Erdenebileg "Kei" Erdensuren (Gold Laner), Erkhembayar "Bankai" Batkhuu (EXP Laner), Saikhanbileg "Bright" Oyunbumchin (Roamer), Temuulen "Mura" Bavuugarid (Substitute), and Zolboo "Kenni" Tsogtbaatar (Mid Laner).
Photo Credits: Esports Charts
The M7 Wild Card has emerged as the most popular in M Series history, according to Esports Charts. Recording 447,251 PCV, the M7 surpasses the previous milestones set by the M6 and M5 Wild Cards, which amassed 344,871 PCV and 271,822 PCV, respectively. The M7 also saw an all-time M Series Wild Card high of 165,329 Average Concurrent Viewers (ACV) and 4,615,431 Hours Watched (HW). This record-breaking start to the M7 highlights the growing popularity of MLBB Esports.
Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, said: "Congratulations to Team Zone and Boostgate Esports on their impressive Wild Card performances! Their achievements reflect the depth of competition and talent emerging across our global MLBB Esports ecosystem. The growing Wild Card viewership we're seeing also signals the expanding influence of our ecosystem and the increasing demand for mobile esports tournaments. It's fitting that this milestone was achieved in Indonesia, the home of our most passionate fans. With the M7 shaping up to be the biggest M Series yet, we're excited to showcase the growth of MLBB Esports and bring fans from around the world together."
"The M7 Wild Card stage delivered record-breaking viewership, becoming the most successful Wild Card stage since its introduction in the M Series tournaments. Hours Watched grew by over 30% year-on-year, while Peak Viewers increased by approximately 29.5%. Strong audience engagement at this early stage highlights not only the game's expanding global reach but also the rising interest of SEA audiences—particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines—as well as growing international viewership, reflecting a more interconnected and competitive MLBB esports ecosystem," said Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts.
M7 Swiss Stage: Where every match matters
Photo Credits: Esports Charts
Beginning 10 January, 16 teams will enter five rounds of intense Swiss Stage competition in Indonesia, the home ground of MLBB Esports. With razor-thin margins for error, eight teams that secure three match wins will advance to the Knockout Stage, while the others will see their M7 dreams come to an end. The field is stacked with regional powerhouses and championship pedigree. The Swiss Stage opens with explosive country-versus-country rivalries that will set the tone for the entire tournament.
Reigning MLBB Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 15 and 16 champions, and MSC at EWC 25 titleholders, Team Liquid Philippines (TLPH) enters the M7 chasing the prestigious Golden Road—an unprecedented pursuit to claim every major MLBB title in a single calendar year, a feat no team has ever achieved. With three crowns already secured, TLPH must now conquer the M7 to continue their pursuit of the historic sweep. Standing first in their path is Aurora Gaming PH (RORA), the Philippine runners-up hungry for redemption.
Malaysia delivers its own high-stakes drama as four-time MPL Malaysia winners, Selangor Red Giants (SRG), square off against CG Esports (CG) in a battle that pits domestic rivals on the international stage. Both teams advanced through the Malaysian circuit, and their familiarity with each other's playstyles promises tactical chess matches that could swing on a single decisive moment. Fresh from the Wild Card Stage pressure cooker, BGT and Z1 arrive battle-hardened and dangerous. Z1 opens against Myanmar's Yangon Galacticos (YG), while BGT faces MPL Indonesia Season 16 champions, ONIC Esports (ONIC). With momentum on their side and everything to prove, both Wild Card graduates are poised to take on established powerhouses as the fight for MLBB supremacy intensifies.
Indonesia at the heart of global esports
The M7 marks the return of the M Series to Indonesia for the first time since M4 in 2023, placing the nation at the centre of the global esports stage. At the M7 Press Conference, MOONTON Games unveiled the M7 Opening Ceremony, marking the first in M Series history. Set to take place on 9 January, the M7 Opening Ceremony will transform Jakarta into a living celebration of esports with a citywide spectacle that reflects the grandeur of international sporting events. The grand ceremony will celebrate MLBB through Indonesia's rich cultural heritage in a cinematic story where tradition meets modern esports. Audiences will journey through the city's iconic landmarks while experiencing the nation's passion and history brought to life through music, performances, and immersive visual storytelling.
The excitement continues with the M7 Carnival, a three-day festival designed to transform Jakarta into a gaming and esports fanfare. From 23 to 25 January, festival-goers can explore interactive zones, performances, and exclusive meet-and-greet sessions with MPL Indonesia teams and popular content creators. Fans will also have the chance to win over 15,000 prizes, including limited-edition M7 merchandise, exclusive in-game skins, and partner giveaways. Grab your tickets and be part of the action: https://id-mpl.com/m7?q=carnival
MLBB stands as one of the world's most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games with over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million Monthly Active Users (MAU). The M6 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia emerged as the most-watched M Series with over 85 million HW, according to Esports Charts. That momentum continued in 2025 when MLBB became as the most-watched title in EWC history, recording over 50 million HW. The MSC at EWC 25 also became the first tournament in the world largest multi-title event to surpass over 3 million PCV, according to Esports Charts.
