Türkiye's road to the M8 World Championship (M8) enters its final stretch on 12 September! The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Türkiye Championship (MTC) returns for Season 8, bringing the country's top teams together ahead of the M Series' historic arrival in Istanbul. Set for January 2027, the M8 marks the M Series' first edition in Europe, continuing MLBB Esports' global expansion strategy. Its previous edition, the M7 World Championship (M7), is the most popular mobile esports tournament in history, recording over 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), according to Esports Charts.
Türkiye's best return to battle
MTC Season 8 will see eight of Türkiye's top MLBB teams compete in the Regular Season from 12 September to 18 October. The lineup includes Aurora Gaming and FUT Esports, both of which represented Türkiye at EWC 26, alongside Bushido Wildcats and Pacific Esports. The season will also welcome Ozorok and Dark Passage to the competition, further strengthening a circuit that continues to attract organisations with established roots across Türkiye's mobile and PC esports ecosystems. The top six teams will advance to the Playoffs to compete for the championship title and a share of the US$40,000 prize pool, with the season culminating in the Grand Finals on 7 November.
Season 8 builds on a milestone year for MLBB Esports in Türkiye. MTC Season 7 became the league's most-watched edition to date, recording 34,134 PCV—22% higher than the previous season, according to Esports Charts. On the competitive front, Aurora Gaming made history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive MTC titles. The Turkish champions carried that momentum onto the international stage at the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris, where they defeated reigning MSC champions, Team Liquid, and Indonesian powerhouse, ONIC, to finish at the top of their group. Their performance underscored the country's growing presence in the international MLBB Esports scene, as the Aurora Gaming held their own against some of the world's most established teams.
MTC Season 7 also received official endorsement from the Turkish Esports Federation (TESFED). Alper Afşin Özdemir, President of TESFED, delivered a speech at the Grand Finals, reflecting growing institutional recognition of MLBB Esports and its role in creating pathways for local esports athletes to compete on the international stage.
The continued growth of MTC is also reflected in its expanding ecosystem of league partners. MTC Season 8 will bring together leading Turkish brands, including Turkcell and Paycell, alongside global brands such as Red Bull. Throughout the season, partners will engage the MLBB community through broadcast, digital, in-game, and on-ground activations, reflecting the growing opportunities for brands to connect with Türkiye's gaming audience as the country builds towards the M8.
Ajay Jilka, Head of Esports – Türkiye, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, and Western Europe at MOONTON Games, said: "The M8 represents a culmination of our long-term efforts to strengthen the MLBB ecosystem in Türkiye. Throughout the years, we've worked to cultivate the grassroots and create more opportunities for local talent and partners to grow within the industry. With MTC Season 8, we are bringing that journey to the local stage and building towards an international moment that reflects the progress of the ecosystem as a whole. As MLBB celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, it is also an opportunity to look ahead and deepen our investment in Türkiye—not only by creating a platform for local talent to compete at the highest level, but by building an ecosystem that can continue to grow and create value well beyond the M8."
The road to Istanbul begins
Türkiye's growing role in the MLBB Esports ecosystem comes as international video gaming company, MOONTON Games, continues to expand the game's competitive footprint worldwide. At the start of 2026, the company unveiled a five-region esports structure spanning Southeast Asia (SEA); Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA); Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); East Asia (EA); and the Americas (AMER). The move reflects the continued development of MLBB esports across markets, with Türkiye now set to take centre stage as host of the M8 in January 2027.
The countdown to the M8 also coincides with MLBB's 10th anniversary this September. Since its launch in 2016, MLBB has recorded over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million Monthly Active Users (MAU) worldwide. In Türkiye, that growth has been supported by continued investment in the local player community, including the Golden Month celebration earlier this year—the country's largest-ever gaming giveaway—with prizes including a Tesla Model Y.
To celebrate a decade of MLBB, a special 10th anniversary event will also take place in Türkiye, bringing the local community together as the world's eyes turn to Istanbul ahead of the M8. More information will be revealed at a later date.
