The MPL Philippines Season 18 Grand Finals unfolded before a sold-out crowd of more than 6,000 at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
Aurora Gaming PH (RORA) has claimed its first Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League (MPL) Philippines championship title after edging out Team Falcons (FLCN), 4–2, in the Season 18 Grand Finals. The historic victory unfolded before a sold-out crowd of more than 6,000 at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. RORA and FLCN will now carry the Philippine flag to the M8 World Championship, representing the nation on the global stage in Istanbul, Türkiye, in January 2027.
As the M Series makes its historic European debut, the Philippines will enter the tournament as the defending world champion. RORA claimed the M7 World Championship in January 2026, delivering the country its sixth consecutive M Series title.
RORA ended TLPH's reign as MPL Philippines champions, stopping their four-peat bid. Jan "Domeng" Del Mundo (rightmost) was named Grand Finals Most Valuable Player (FMVP) for his decisive performances throughout the series.
RORA and FLCN now carry the country's redemption bid, following difficult campaigns at the MLBB Mid Season Cup at the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris and the 2026 Asian Games Esports Events: MLBB in Nagoya. For RORA, the M8 is an opportunity to defend the world title; for FLCN, it is the chance to turn its Season 18 breakthrough into international success.
RORA climbed their way from the play-ins and eliminated Team Liquid Philippines (TLPH) in the Lower Bracket Finals match. With this victory, RORA halted TLPH's reign as MPL PH champions and their four-peat bid.
Jan "Domeng" Del Mundo was named Grand Finals Most Valuable Player (FMVP) after a stellar series in which he stepped up with decisive performances on Kimmy, Chou, and Clint in the final three games. He was joined by teammates Kenneth "Yue" Tadeo, Dylan "Light" Catipon, Kyle "Koyl" Reyes, and Nathanael "Nathzz" Estrologo.
More than 1,200 Cebu fans gathered at Robinsons Galleria Activity Centre to celebrate the MPL Philippines Season 18 Grand Finals.
Season 18 also marked a milestone for MPL Philippines, with the league hosting its first-ever on-site event in Cebu at Robinsons Galleria Activity Centre, which welcomed 1,200 on-site spectators.
Across the season, MPL PH recorded 28.4 million hours watched, 1.49 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV), and an average of 178,125 concurrent viewers, according to Esports Charts. The results underscore MPL Philippines' sustained ability to unite a large, highly engaged audience across live events and digital platforms.
Artyom Odintsov, co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts, said: "Fans follow the league through the whole season and show up in force when the stakes are highest. And that audience keeps expanding, because the league meets fans where they already are: TikTok now drives more than half of all watch time, co-streamers bring around 40% of viewership, and a quarter of it comes in languages beyond Tagalog. MPL PH is no longer just a Philippine event. It's a regional one."
Jane Dela Cruz, Esports Head of Marketing, Philippines, at MOONTON Games, said: "Season 18 showed that Philippine MLBB Esports continues to evolve—on the stage, in the arena, and across the communities that make this league special. From the sold-out Grand Finals in Pasig to our first-ever on-site celebration in Cebu, fans embraced a season defined by new rivalries, fresh momentum, and the emergence of Aurora Gaming PH as a new MPL Philippines champion. As Aurora Gaming PH and Team Falcons PH carry the Philippines to M8, they will bring the pride of the Home of the Champions to the world stage and continue the country's pursuit of another historic M Series title."
The road to the M8 continues across Southeast Asia
Across Southeast Asia, national champions and contenders continue their campaigns for places at the M8.
In Singapore, TEAM EVIL reclaimed the MPL Singapore crown in Season 12, defeating Absolute Zero 4–2 in the Grand Finals. On the other hand, Myanmar saw Falcon Esports claim the MSL Myanmar title, ending Yangon Galacticos' reign.
The MDL Philippines Playoffs will take place from 29 to 30 October. Its champion will join TEAM EVIL and Falcon Esports at the MLBB Championship Tour Southeast Asia (MCT SEA) in Bangkok, Thailand.
MPL Malaysia Season 18 Playoffs will take place from 28 October to 1 November, followed by MPL Indonesia Season 18 Playoffs from 4 to 8 November and MPL Cambodia Playoffs from 11 to 15 November.
MPL Philippines' largest partner roster powers Season 18
MPL Philippines Season 18 was supported by the league's largest partner roster to date, with brands including Visa, Infinix, and Smart helping create enhanced experiences for fans, players, and the wider MLBB community.
Visa Mythical Glory Day Pass holders bonded with their favourite teams at the MPL PH Superfan City
At MPL Philippines Season 18, Visa brought fans closer to the action through early access to the Visa Mythical Glory Day Pass—including VIP seating, meet-and-greets, and lounge access—and by supporting the Alamat Awards, which recognised the season's most improved, comeback, and rising players. The collaboration follows Visa's appointment as Global Payment Partner for the M8 through M10 World Championships.
