Six MPL-PH pro teams to compete in ONE Esports MPL Invitational

 by Drew Malihan

MANILA - Six teams from the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League - Philippines (MPL-PH) will participate in the upcoming ONE Esports MPL Invitational which will start on November 27.

MPL-PH Season 6 champions Bren Esports, runners-up Omega PH Esports, semifinalists Execration and ONIC PH, and quarterfinalists Aura PH and Blacklist International will square off against some of the best teams in the MLBB professional scene in Southeast Asia.

Four other nations from three MPL regional leagues will also participate, with Burmese Ghouls and Ronin Esports representing MPL-MM in Myanmar, while champions Todak, Orange Louvre Esports, EVOS SG, and Resurgence will represent MPL-MY/SG of Malaysia and Singapore.

All eight teams from MPL-ID in Indonesia will also took part, with Season 6 champions RRQ Hoshi, runners-up Alter Ego, Aurafire, Bigetron, EVOS Legends, Geek Fam ID, Genlix Aerowolf, and ONIC Esports completing the roster.

"I’m proud of how the ONE Esports and Moonton relationship has blossomed to now include this unique competition, which, for the first time, will enable the best teams from each of the four Mobile Legends Professional Leagues to compete in an online tournament," said ONE Esports CEO Carlos Alimurung.

Moonton Esports Managing Director Lucas Mao quoted the boom of the esports scene in Southeast Asia, citing the game's huge online presence in Indonesia and the Philippines.

We saw a big increase in our peak concurrent users with Indonesia hitting 2.8 million and Philippines hitting over 700,000 in our latest MPL, Mao said. "We look forward to breaking another record and bringing MLBB esports into the international esports stage."

The 20 teams will compete for the lion's share of $100,000 USD and the bragging rights as the best professional MLBB team in Southeast Asia, with the tournament a partnership between Moonton, ONE Esports, and the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.

"I highly appreciate and support ONE Esports’ 2020 Mobile Legends Professional League Invitational as a virtual sports tourism event that will create compelling and engaging travel experience content to encourage domestic tourism travel in Indonesia, while adhering to health protocols," said Indonesian tourism minister Wishnutama Kusubandio.

The tournament, which will last until December 6, will be broadcasted worldwide via both online streaming platforms of One Esports and MLBB.

Follow him on Twitter: @drewmalihan