Later, Southeast Asia! The most-hyped mid-season showdown of competitive Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, the Southeast Asia Cup, is getting a makeover and a new name: MLBB Mid-Season Cup! Moonton Games just dropped the news that they’re expanding the tourney to more regions and ditching the Southeast Asia exclusivity.
Why the change? Well, according to Moonton Games, they’re rebranding the MSC to fit its Esports for Everyone vision. The company wants to make it a global party, giving a chance to wider group to compete in one of the hottest esports events.
Furthermore, Moonton claimed that the revamped MSC promises more teams, a fatter prize pool, and higher stakes. And this is including China, a significant force in the esports sphere, which marked its competitive MLBB debut in late 2023. The anticipation further intensifies as China is slated to make its formal entry into the MSC fray in 2024, adding a new layer of excitement to the tournament.
Recalling the electrifying atmosphere of last June in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Onic Esports from Indonesia emerged victorious, clinching their second MSC title after a gripping 4-2 triumph over Blacklist International in the grand finals. The MSC has left its mark in various locations over the years, including Malaysia (2022), the Philippines (2019), and Indonesia (2018). The virtual battleground during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 added a unique twist to the tournament.
The end of MSC’s domination in the SEA region surely brings closure to a heated debate among fans. The inclusion of non-SEA regions has been a point of contention, with fans expressing concerns about diluting the exclusive essence of the competition. The spotlight fell on MSC 2023 in Cambodia, which faced criticism for bringing in outsiders: Fire Flux Impunity (Turkey), Team Occupy (MENA), and Outplay (USA).
As anticipation builds for MSC 2024, Moonton remains tight-lipped about the event’s new location. However, pundits from Indonesia and the Philippines tease at the possibility of Saudi Arabia playing host, unrelated with any specific esports circuit in the country.
