Team Spirit have claimed the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Continental Championships (MCC) Season 8 crown, setting the stage for a historic Golden Road bid! The team defeated Aurevia Team 4–0 in the Grand Finals to secure their eighth MCC title and a place at the M8 World Championship (M8) Main Stage in Istanbul, Türkiye. A world title would see Team Spirit become the first team to complete the Golden Road by winning all major regional and international MLBB Esports titles within a competitive year.
Team Spirit will be the first team from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) to attempt the feat, building on a breakthrough year for the region. They made history at the Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC), becoming the first team from outside Asia to win a major international MLBB tournament. Now, Istanbul awaits as the final destination in their pursuit of the Golden Road.
At the heart of that journey are veterans Kemiran "Sunset Lover" Kochkarov (Mid Laner) and Stanislav "SAWO" Reshniak (Roamer), who have competed together since the inaugural M Series, the M1 World Championship in 2019. Their journey now takes them to the first M Series in Europe, with the chance to achieve a first in MLBB Esports history. Joining them are Anton "Hiko" Pak (Gold Laner), Mathaios "Kid Bomba" Chatzilakos (EXP Laner), and Zaur "zauregoist" Magomadov (Jungler).
EECA's growing depth on the international stage
For the first time, EECA will have three representatives at an international MLBB tournament, marking a milestone in the region's growing competitiveness. While Team Spirit pursue a place in the history books, Aurevia Team and Team Yandex will make their M Series debuts at the M8 Wild Card in Bangkok, Thailand. Their qualification reflects the increasing depth of EECA's talent pool, with more teams emerging as consistent international challengers.
Joining them are Aurevia Team, who secured second place in MCC Season 8. Their roster includes players who won the MSC at EWC 25 Wild Card during their international debut, bringing proven experience to their first M Series campaign. Aurevia Team's roster comprises Aleksandra "Kerrigan" Fokina (Substitute), Denis "BadKot" Bogomolov (EXP Laner), Dmitrii "Bober" Beliaev (Mid Laner), Eduard "Magistor" Rukosuev (Jungler), Egor "Super Egorka" Bugaev (Marksman), and Stanislav "Fangor" Gorin (Roamer).
Backed by one of the region's largest technology companies, Team Yandex will enter the M8 Wild Card with a roster that previously qualified for the MSC at EWC 26 Wild Card. Their M8 appearance marks another step forward for a line-up building its presence beyond the region. Team Yandex's roster comprises Aleksandr "Yustinian" Markov (Jungler), Andrey "A F K" Loginov (Roamer), Atalaev "Castle" Ramazan (EXP Laner), Ermek "Kodjikk" Baibulsinov (Mid Laner), Timur "Black march" Falin (Gold Laner), and Ruslan "Marbon" Gabdrakhmanov (Substitute).
MLBB sets sail for Europe
From Bangkok's Wild Card to Istanbul's Main Stage, the M8 will chart a course across Asia and Europe as the first M Series to span two continents. The journey marks a new chapter for MLBB Esports, with its flagship tournament making its European debut as its competitive footprint continues to grow.
Ajay Jilka, Head of Esports for Eastern Europe & Central Asia (EECA), Türkiye, and Western Europe at MOONTON Games, said: "Our approach to global growth starts with building competitive depth in each region. We've worked towards an ecosystem where a league like MCC can produce contenders for the biggest titles. The region's progress shows the potential of that approach, giving fans more reasons to follow the league and clubs and partners greater confidence in EECA's competitive future. Bringing the M8 outside of Asia allows us to build on that foundation and turn competitive credibility into a lasting presence in the market. We want the attention around the M8 to translate into stronger engagement with our regional leagues and deeper commercial relationships that continue beyond the tournament. That's how we see Europe contributing to the next decade of growth for MLBB Esports."
According to Esports Charts, the previous edition—the M7 World Championship (M7)—was the world's most-popular mobile esports tournament, recording more than 5.68 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV). In January 2027, Istanbul will host the M8 Main Stage, bringing 16 of the world’s leading MLBB teams to Türkiye. Over the past decade, its competitive ecosystem has grown beyond its Southeast Asian roots into a multi-region circuit connecting teams and audiences around the world.
