Mongolia's The MongolZ (MGLZ) claimed the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) East Asia Championship Tour (MCT EA) title at M Bank Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 31 October. MGLZ secured direct qualification for the M8 World Championship (M8) Main Stage, which will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, in January 2027.
MGLZ defeated China's Guangzhou Gaming (GZG) 3–0 in the Lower Bracket Final before overcoming China's DianFengYaoGuai (DFYG) 5:3 in the Grand Final. DFYG and GZG finished second and third, respectively, earning East Asia's two M8 Wild Card slots in Bangkok, Thailand, this December.
Hosted by MOONTON Games and co-hosted by Mongolian esports tournament operator, Esports Network (ESN), the MCT EA debuted the "Immortality Armour" mechanic, which rewarded Upper Bracket winner DFYG for completing an undefeated run through the double-elimination stage. Under the format, DFYG needed four wins to secure the championship. However, MGLZ reached four wins first, triggering an "Armour Break" that removed DFYG's advantage. MGLZ then claimed the decisive fifth game to seal the championship.
MGLZ will join the 16-team M8 Main Stage in Istanbul, where the world's best teams will compete to "Stand Above the World". DFYG and GZG will first make "One Last Stand" at the M8 Wild Card, where a record 10 teams will compete for three M8 Golden Tickets—their passage to Istanbul and a place at MLBB Esports' highest stage.
The expanded format gives more regional contenders a route to the M Series, reflecting MLBB Esports' continued globalisation and ambition to give emerging markets a greater role in shaping the future of esports.
China's DianFengYaoGuai (DFYG) and Guangzhou Gaming (GZG) finished second and third respectively, securing East Asia's two M8 Wild Card spots in Bangkok this December.
The Ulaanbaatar stop was the first MCT EA tournament to ladder up to the M Series, MLBB's flagship global competition. As the East Asia circuit within MLBB's five-region global strategy, MCT EA connects local competition across China, Mongolia, Japan, and South Korea, creating a unified pathway for teams and players to gain regional experience and reach the international stage.
The six-team field also featured Mongolia's MIO AHP (MIO), Japan's Tokyo Cinnamon (TC), and South Korea’s Zero Gravity (ZG).
Slim Gong, Head of Esports, East Asia, at MOONTON Games, said: "The MongolZ's home-soil victory is a defining moment for Mongolia and a strong reflection of the growing competitiveness across East Asia. The first Immortality Armour in the Grand Finals demonstrated the level of innovation and high-stakes competition that MCT EA can deliver. With MCT EA now connected to the M Series, The MongolZ, DFYG, and GZG have turned regional performance into a place on MLBB's biggest global stage. We thank ESN, our partners, participating teams, and fans for making the Ulaanbaatar stop possible, and look forward to seeing East Asia take on the world in Bangkok and Istanbul."
The MCT EA reflects MLBB Esports' continued global expansion. In 2026, the MLBB Mid Season Cup and MLBB Women's International made their European debuts in Paris, France. The M8 will bring the M Series to Europe for the first time in January 2027, while Team Spirit's Mid Season Cup victory this year marked the first official international MLBB title won by a team from outside Southeast Asia.
Elsewhere, Team Spirit swept Aurevia Team 4–0 to win the MLBB Continental Championships (MCC) Season 8 and qualify for the M8 Main Stage. Having already won MCC Season 7 and the MLBB Mid Season Cup at the 2026 Esports World Cup, Team Spirit will now pursue MLBB Esports' first Golden Road—the feat of winning major regional and international titles within a single competitive year. Aurevia Team and Team Yandex qualified for the M8 Wild Card.
In Malaysia, Selangor Red Giants defended their MPL Malaysia title after a seven-game Grand Final against Team Rey. Both teams secured direct qualification for the M8 Main Stage. MPL Indonesia Season 18 Playoffs take place from 4 to 8 November, followed by the MPL Cambodia Playoffs from 11 to 15 November.
