Aurora Gaming successfully defend their MLBB Türkiye Championship title
Aurora Gaming have been crowned champions of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Türkiye Championship (MTC) Season 8 after defeating FUT Esports 4–3 in the Grand Finals! With the domestic title secured, Aurora Gaming will now set their sights on an even bigger prize—the M8 World Championship (M8), which will take place on home soil next January.
Setting sail for the world stage
The victory comes as Türkiye prepares to host the M8, marking the first time the world's most popular mobile esport will bring its flagship tournament to the country. The M8 will bring 16 of the world's best teams to Istanbul, marking the M Series' historic European debut. Aurora Gaming will look to build on their domestic success as they compete for the world title in front of a home crowd. The roster consists of Ahmet "Rosa" Batır (Mid Laner), Lukasz "Pagu" Bigus (Roamer), Mehmet "Lunar" Ilgun (EXP Laner), Sidar "Tienzy" Menteşe (Jungler), and Şiyar "Sigibum" Akbulut (Gold Laner).
Meanwhile, MTC S8 runners-up, FUT Esports, will head to Bangkok, Thailand, for the M8 Wild Card, where they will face nine other teams for one of the final three Main Stage spots. With their world title hopes on the line, FUT Esports will make One Last Stand to secure their place in Istanbul. Should they qualify, they will join Aurora Gaming, giving Türkiye two teams competing for the world title on home soil.
Ajay Jilka, Head of Esports for Eastern Europe & Central Asia (EECA), Türkiye, and Western Europe at MOONTON Games, said: "Globally, our ambition has always been to build an MLBB Esports ecosystem where talent can develop locally and compete at the highest level internationally. That means investing in local and regional leagues to create meaningful opportunities for teams and give fans reasons to follow the competition year-round. Türkiye's progress reflects what we're working towards, with a growing competitive scene and more teams looking to make their mark internationally. Bringing the M8 to Istanbul is a significant milestone, but our focus goes beyond the tournament itself. We want to build on this momentum to create lasting opportunities for teams, partners, and the wider esports community around the world."
Beyond the matches: Türkiye celebrates MLBB
Turkish Esports Federation President, Alper Afşin Özdemir, delivers the opening remarks before the Grand Finals
The MTC Season 8 Grand Finals brought Türkiye's MLBB community together for a celebration that extended beyond the matches. Supported by the Turkish Esports Federation (TESFED), the event saw TESFED President Alper Afşin Özdemir address fans ahead of the Grand Finals, underscoring the tournament's significance to Türkiye's growing esports scene.
Mr Özdemir said: "The MTC Season 8 Grand Finals marks the beginning of an important new chapter for Turkish esports. This January, we will welcome one of the world's biggest mobile esports events, the M8, to Istanbul. This is a tremendous source of pride for us and an important milestone in Türkiye's presence on the global esports stage. Our players have always travelled around the world to represent Türkiye. But now, the world will come to us! We look forward to welcoming the global esports community to Istanbul and building on this milestone to further strengthen Türkiye's position in international esports."
Fans interact with cosplayers and brand partners at the event
Brands including Hepsiburada, EXVEGA, Red Bull, and Dijipin joined the celebrations with interactive booths, challenges, and giveaways. Fans also met their favourite players and KOLs, took part in cosplay competitions, and tested their skills in 1v1 challenges. The festivities also offered a glimpse of what awaits fans when the M8 arrives in Istanbul next January. At the dedicated Road to M8 Fan Zone, supporters left messages and wishes for the World Championship, while a team history showcase celebrated Aurora Gaming's and FUT Esports' journeys to the Grand Finals. Together, the activities brought fans, teams, and partners closer as Türkiye looks ahead to welcoming the global MLBB Esports community for the first time.
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 global competitive footprint continues to grow. Tickets for the M8 Knockout Stage and Grand Finals can be found here.
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). 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.
