Esports World Cup 2025: MLBB top teams
Excitement is building as MSC 2025, MLBB’s biggest mid-season clash, heads to Riyadh this July 10 with 23 top teams battling for a $3 million prize pool. But the stakes go beyond glory—each team will also earn valuable Club Points toward standings in the Esports World Cup. Get the full scoop and don’t miss a beat of the action, breakdowns, and bold moves.
Event overview: Dates, location and scope
MSC 2025 runs from July 10 to August 2 in Riyadh, the second time it's held outside Southeast Asia. The tour starts with the Wildcard Stage, moves to the Group Stage, and ends with the Knockout Stage.
Format breakdown:
- Wildcard
- 8 teams, two groups, Best-of-Three (Bo3)
- The top two teams advance to the Wildcard Playoffs
- The winner qualifies for the Group Stage.
- Group Stage
- 16 teams randomly placed into two groups
- Region-protected
- Double elimination with Bo3 matches
- The top 8 move on to the Knockout Stage.
- Knockouts
- 8 teams
- Single elimination bracket
- All matches are Bo5, but the Grand Final is Bo7.
The champ takes $1 million and top Club Points.
- 1st Place – $1,000,000 USD + 1,000 Club Points
- 2nd Place – $500,000 USD + 750 Club Points
- 3rd Place – $250,000 USD + 500 Club Points
- 4th Place – $150,000 USD + 300 Club Points
- 5th–8th – $100,000 USD + 200 Club Points.
MLBB’s Mid‑Season Cup debuts internationally with a fresh format
The Wildcard Stage runs from July 10 to 13 and now uses a Bo3 double-elim GSL format, where the top teams cross over to the semis for a shot at the group stage. The Group Stage follows from July 23 to 27, shifting from Bo2 to Bo3 double-elim, with 16 teams split into two groups.
The Knockout Stage takes place from July 30 to August 2 and remains single elimination, but now adds a third-place match. Also new is the draw rule—2–0 teams from groups get to pick their opponent, based on match time.
Inside the format: How the battle unfolds
MSC 2025 brings together teams from 16 regions, with Japan (ZETA DIVISION) and Vietnam (Legion Esports) entering the Wild Card stage. Eight Wild Card teams will clash for one slot in the Main Stage, where 16 squads enter a Bo3 double-elim group fight.
Strategic impact: Co‑Hosting & broader vision
Co-hosting MSC 2025 with the Esports World Cup reflects MOONTON’s push for a broader, global stage. With MLBB reaching 2.38 million peak viewers in 2024, the move taps into mobile esports’ fastest-growing fan base.
The joint stage also highlights MOONTON’s drive to build a more open, high-stakes scene for all regions. As the battle will heat up in Riyadh, MSC is a bold sign of where mobile esports is headed.
