In July 2025, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) world turned its eyes to Saudi Arabia for the Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the Esports World Cup (EWC). The final piece of the puzzle fell into place when Virtus.pro (VP), a team from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), defeated China's Rare Atom (RA) 3-1 in the Wild Card Finals. With that victory, VP became the 16th and final team to qualify for the Main Stage. The achievement was not just a qualification. It was an international debut that announced a new contender on the global MLBB stage. From 23 July to 2 August, VP would compete against 15 of the world's best teams for a championship title and a life-changing USD 3,000,000 prize pool. Looking back from 2026, the run still stands as a reminder of how unpredictable MLBB Esports can be.
The Underdogs Defy the Odds
VP's path to EWC was not paved with easy victories. The team began in Season 5 of the MLBB Continental Championships (MCC). They secured a top-two finish in the Closed Qualifiers, which led into the Regular Season, Play-Ins, and Playoffs. VP finished fifth in the Regular Season and then navigated the Lower Brackets of the Play-Ins to reach the Playoffs. There, they emerged second, earning a Wild Card slot. It was a grind. Every stage demanded resilience, adaptability, and a refusal to fold.
The roster that carried the banner was a blend of hunger and discipline:
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Andrew 'Andoryuuu' Flora - Jungler
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Denis 'BadKot' Bogomolov - EXP Laner
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Dmitrii 'Bober' Beliaev - Mid Laner
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Egor 'superegorka' Bugaev - Marksman
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Vladimir 'Pluto' Misiurin - Roamer
The Wild Card introduced a new format to test teams. It included a BO3, double-elimination inter-group phase, requiring victories within and across groups, followed by a BO5 Finals. VP mastered it. Their 3-1 win over RA in the BO5 Finals was the final proof. The underdog spirit that had carried them through MCC now carried them onto the Main Stage.
A Group Stage Draw to Remember
The Group Stage draw took place immediately after the Wild Card Finals. VP's reward for triumph was a daunting one: they were drawn with defending champions Selangor Red Giant OG Esports (SRG). The question was simple. Would their underdog spirit be enough against their toughest opponents yet?
The first three matches on 23 July featured MPL champions Team Liquid (Philippines), ONIC ID (Indonesia), and SRG (Malaysia). All three heavy-hitters landed in Group A, which quickly looked like The Group of Death. VP stood in that same group, facing a brutal test. Group B featured reigning MLBB world champions ONIC PH and fan favourites RRQ Hoshi. ONIC PH also had a redemption arc to complete after relinquishing the MPL PH crown in Season 15 to Team Liquid.
| Group | Notable Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Team Liquid (Philippines), ONIC ID, SRG, Virtus.pro |
| Group B | ONIC PH, RRQ Hoshi |
From 23 to 27 July, 16 of the world's best MLBB teams competed in the Group Stage. The format split teams into two groups for a BO3, double-elimination battle. The stakes were higher than ever. Teams had to #EncounterTheUnknown in the most competitive MSC yet.
The Queens Take the Stage
MLBB Esports action continued at EWC 25 with the MLBB Women's Invitational (MWI). It returned as the largest women's tournament at the world's biggest multi-title esports event. From 15 to 19 July, 16 of the world's best teams competed for the most prestigious MLBB women's esports title. All eyes shifted to the MWI battlefield, where one team would reign as the Queens of MLBB Esports.
From 15 to 17 July, the Group Stage featured 16 teams split into four groups competing in a BO3, double-elimination format. On 17 and 18 July, the top two teams from each group advanced to the Knockout Stage, which followed a BO3, single-elimination format. On 19 July, the BO5 third-place match gave teams a final chance to secure a podium finish. The tournament concluded the same day with a BO7 Grand Finals to crown the newest Queens of MLBB Esports.
As MLBB's flagship women's tournament, MWI served as an inclusive platform for female athletes to prove they stood amongst the world's best. This edition marked the tournament's largest ever, welcoming teams from 57 qualifying regions and four new entrants. MWI at EWC 25 also featured a USD 500,000 prize pool, one of the largest in women's esports history, aimed at fostering sustainable careers for female esports talent. The increased diversity and enhanced format showcased MOONTON Games' commitment to championing a #Limitless future for women in esports. MOONTON Games also launched dedicated social media channels for the MLBB women's ecosystem, aiming to spotlight female talent, build community, and create more visibility across the competitive scene.
MLBB Shines on the World's Largest Esports Stage
The world's most-watched mobile esports title of 2024 returned to EWC 25 under the banner One Game, Two Champions. In 2024, MLBB Esports made history at MSC and MWI. According to Esports Charts, MSC was the most-watched title at EWC 24, with the Grand Finals reaching over 2.38 million Peak Concurrent Viewers (PCV). The seven-match series between Falcons AP.Bren (now AP.Bren) and Selangor Red Giants (now Selangor Red Giants OG Esports) ended with the latter taking home Malaysia's first MLBB international trophy and USD 1,000,000.
MWI 2024 made history as the only women's tournament at the inaugural EWC. It also recorded its most-watched edition to date with over 2.5 million Hours Watched, according to Esports Charts. Building on those landmark moments, MLBB Esports returned to make its mark again at the world's biggest esports event.
In 2026, the 2025 MSC remains a benchmark. VP's debut showed that a team from EECA could rise through MCC, survive the Wild Card, and stand on the Main Stage. It also showed that the Group Stage could turn into a gauntlet. The prize pool, the viewership, and the women's tournament all pointed to a growing ecosystem. For VP, the story was simple and brutal. They had qualified. Now they had to face SRG, Team Liquid, ONIC ID, and the rest of the world. The underdog spirit had carried them to the dance. Whether it could carry them further was the question that defined the 2025 MSC at EWC. As MLBB Esports moves deeper into 2026, that question still echoes.