M7 World Championship Returns: What to Expect From MLBB’s Biggest Global Event

The M7 World Championship marks the return of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s top global competition, coming back after a year-long absence in 2025 due to the SEA Games calendar. The tournament began on January 3rd and will continue through January 25th.

This year’s edition brings together 22 top-tier teams from multiple regions, all competing for a $1 million prize pool and global supremacy. One of the most notable twists heading into M7 is the absence of the defending champions. ONIC Philippines will not be present, ensuring that a new world champion will be crowned.

With the stage set, here is a fresh breakdown of how M7 will unfold, including team distribution, competition format, standout contenders, and how fans can follow the action.

Global Representation at M7

The M7 World Championship features teams entering the competition through two different paths. Eight teams must fight through the Wildcard Stage, while fourteen teams are already locked into the Main Event.

Teams Starting in the Wildcard Stage

• RLG SE (Vietnam)
  
• Axe (MENA)
  
• Boostgate Esports (Türkiye)
  
• Virtus.pro (EECA)
  
• Leon Esports (Mekong)
  
• Guangzhou Gaming (China)
  
• Team Zone (Mongolia)
  
• ZETA DIVISION (Japan)
  

Teams Qualified Directly for the Main Event

• ONIC (Indonesia)
  
• Alter Ego (Indonesia)
  
• Team Liquid PH (Philippines)
  
• Aurora Gaming PH (Philippines)
  
• Selangor Red Giants OG (Malaysia)
  
• CG Esports (Malaysia)
  
• Evil (Singapore)
  
• CFU Gaming (Cambodia)
  
• Team Falcons (MENA)
  
• Yangon Galacticos (Myanmar)
  
• Team Spirit (EECA)
  
• Aurora Gaming (Türkiye)
  
• Black Sentence Esports (Latin America)
  
• DianFengYaoGuai (China)
  

How the M7 Tournament Is Structured

Wildcard Stage: First Test of Survival (January 3–6)

The tournament opens with the Wildcard Stage, where eight teams battle for just two Main Event slots. These teams are split into two groups, each competing in a single round-robin format. All matches are played as best-of-three series.

Wildcard Group Breakdown

Group A

• Boostgate Esports
  
• Team Zone
  
• Leon Esports
  
• ZETA DIVISION
  

Group B

• Guangzhou Gaming
  
• Virtus.pro
  
• Axe
  
• RLG SE
  

Only the top two teams from each group move forward. From there, qualification is decided through best-of-five elimination matches, with just two teams advancing to the next stage.

Main Event: The Road to the Trophy

The Main Event is divided into two phases: the Swiss Stage and the Knockout Stage.

Swiss Stage (January 10–17)

A total of 16 teams compete — the 14 direct qualifiers plus the two survivors from the Wildcard Stage. Matchups are determined via random draw, and teams must win enough series to secure a place in the playoffs.

Opening Swiss Stage Matches

• Alter Ego vs Aurora Gaming
  
• Aurora Gaming PH vs Team Liquid PH
  
• Black Sentence Esports vs CFU Gaming
  
• Selangor Red Giants OG vs CG Esports
  
• Wildcard Qualifier vs Yangon Galacticos
  
• Evil vs Team Secret
  
• DianFengYaoGuai vs Team Falcons
  
• ONIC vs Wildcard Qualifier
  

Knockout Stage (January 18–25)

The top eight teams from the Swiss Stage advance into a double-elimination playoff bracket. Most series are played as best-of-five, with the exception of the opening upper-bracket round, which uses a best-of-three format. The tournament culminates in a best-of-seven Grand Final.

Where and How Fans Can Watch

The early phases of M7, including the Wildcard Stage, Swiss Stage, and the opening day of playoffs will be hosted at MPL Arena XO Hall in Jakarta. The final stretch of the tournament, including the Grand Final, moves to the Tennis Indoor Stadium Senayan.

Tickets are available through MPL Indonesia’s official platform. For fans watching remotely, all matches will be streamed live on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s official YouTube and Twitch channels, ensuring global access to the tournament.