RRQ Hoshi win MPL ID S18 derby against EVOS, but Team Liquid ID seal the first playoff ticket

RRQ Hoshi won Indonesia's biggest Mobile Legends rivalry on Sunday (4 October), beating EVOS 2-1 in week seven of MPL Indonesia Season 18. The win avenged a 0-2 loss in the first meeting of the season, but it did little to rescue RRQ's campaign.

On the same day, Team Liquid ID beat Alter Ego 2-0 to become the first team to secure a place in the playoffs, extending their lead at the top of the regular-season table.

The derby: a win that may come too late

RRQ against EVOS remains the headline fixture of any MPL ID season, and Sunday's three-game contest lived up to its billing. For RRQ, though, the context was bleak. The Kings started the week in ninth place, the bottom of the nine-team table, and the derby win lifted them only to eighth.

Indonesian outlet detikINET reported RRQ on a 3-9 record after the weekend, with two weeks of the regular season left and only four matches to play. Only the top six teams reach the playoffs, and the reports suggest that is now out of reach for one of the league's most successful clubs.

The week had started badly for RRQ, who were beaten 2-1 by Bigetron by Vitality on Saturday.

Team Liquid ID clinch their place

Team Liquid ID did not have a perfect week. They opened on Friday (2 October) with a 2-1 defeat to DEWA United, but bounced back with a 2-0 sweep of Alter Ego on Sunday to confirm their playoff spot. They lead the table with a 10-3 match record, with NAVI just behind on 9-3.

The race for upper-bracket seeding now becomes the focus for Liquid as the regular season winds down.

Full week seven results

• Friday 2 October: Bigetron by Vitality 2-1 Geek Fam; DEWA United 2-1 Team Liquid ID
• Saturday 3 October: NAVI 2-1 Alter Ego; Bigetron by Vitality 2-1 RRQ Hoshi; Geek Fam 2-1 DEWA United
• Sunday 4 October: Team Liquid ID 2-0 Alter Ego; RRQ Hoshi 2-1 EVOS; ONIC 2-1 NAVI

Bigetron were the team of the week with two wins from two, while ONIC's victory over NAVI helped them climb the standings. Every series bar one went the full three games.

What it means for Malaysian fans

MPL ID is widely followed in Malaysia, and the outcome of the Indonesian league shapes the field for regional and international events later in the season. Closer to home, MPL Malaysia Season 18 resumes this week after its Asian Games break, with week seven scheduled for 8-11 October at the MPL MY Arena in Kuala Lumpur.

Key takeaways

• RRQ Hoshi beat EVOS 2-1, avenging a 0-2 loss earlier in the season.
• The win lifted RRQ only from ninth to eighth, with a 3-9 record and two weeks left.
• Team Liquid ID beat Alter Ego 2-0 to become the first team into the playoffs.
• Bigetron by Vitality won both their week-seven matches, including against RRQ.

FAQ

Who won the RRQ vs EVOS derby in MPL ID S18 week 7? RRQ Hoshi won 2-1 on Sunday 4 October.

Which team has qualified for the MPL ID S18 playoffs first? Team Liquid ID, after a 2-0 win over Alter Ego took them to 10-3.

How many teams reach the MPL ID S18 playoffs? The top six teams from the nine-team regular season advance.

Sources: Liputan6, detikINET, Journal Arta, Joytify