QUEZON CITY—Mobile Legends Bang Bang will be the centerpiece tournament once the Southeast Asian Games esports event takes place next year in Bangkok.
Already a part of the SEA Games esports cycle since the entire event's inclusion to the biennial meet's calendar in 2019, this will be the fourth straight time MLBB will be played in the SEA Games.
However, the game has grown professionally in Southeast Asia as evidenced by world championships won by an Indonesian, Filipino, or, more recently, Malaysian squad.
It is fitting that the MLBB golds will have the biggest bearing among the championships at stake in the SEA Games.
"As the world's most popular mobile esports game, we will have medalled competitions for both men's and women's divisions in the 33rd SEA Games. This marks a momentous occasion as it is the fourth consecutive time that MLBB is a medalled sport at the biennial multi-sporting event," Moonton, MLBB's developer, said in a statement on Wednesday night.
The Philippines, represented by national esports team Sibol, has been invincible in the SEA Games men's MLBB tourney.
In the inaugural SEA Games esports in 2019 in San Juan City, an all-star cast led by Karl "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno and Angelo "Pheww" Arcangel defended the homecourt for Sibol as they won gold.
Three years later in Hanoi, Sibol decided to bring in the entire Blacklist International roster then led by the "VeeWise" duo of Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna and Danerie "Wise" Del Rosario and made it 2-0 for the national team in the SEA Games MLBB championship.
Last year, Arcangel returned to Sibol, this time bringing all his Falcons AP Bren teammates along, and the squad also won the SEA Games gold in Phnom Penh, a major highlight of the club's dominating 2023 capped by winning the M5 World Championship in Manila.
The midlaner became the first Filipino to win multiple golds in the entire SEA Games esports.
A women's tournament was introduced also last year with Sibol, represented by Smart Omega Empress, capturing the silver.
Sibol looks to make it 4-0 in SEA Games MLBB men's championships, but tough challenges from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and even host country Thailand are expected.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
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