M8 World Championship: which MLBB teams have qualified and how the rest of the field is decided
Malaysia and the Philippines have named their M8 teams, Indonesia decides this weekend, and MCT SEA in Bangkok follows in December. Here's the full road to Istanbul.
The field for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M8 World Championship is starting to take shape. With MPL Malaysia and MPL Philippines finished and MPL Indonesia reaching its climax this weekend, four of the 16 Main Stage places are already filled. M8 begins with a Wild Card stage in Bangkok before moving to Istanbul in January 2027, the first M-Series event held in Europe.
Who has qualified so far
Philippines: Aurora Gaming PH won their first MPL Philippines title on 25 October, beating Team Falcons PH 4-2 in front of a sold-out PhilSports Arena crowd of more than 6,000. Jan "Domeng" Del Mundo was named Finals MVP. Aurora are the reigning world champions after sweeping Alter Ego 4-0 in the M7 final in Jakarta, and The Philippine Star noted they would be the first team to successfully defend an M-Series crown. Falcons PH take the second Philippine slot.
Malaysia: Selangor Red Giants beat Team Rey 4-3 in the MPL Malaysia Season 18 grand final on 1 November for a sixth straight domestic title. Both teams go directly to the Main Stage.
Indonesia: Still to be decided. The MPL ID Season 18 playoffs in Surabaya run until Sunday 8 November, and the two grand finalists qualify. Former champions ONIC and EVOS were eliminated on the opening day.
How the 16-team Main Stage is filled
Moonton's slot allocation, reported by esports.gg, is:
- MPL Indonesia, MPL Philippines and MPL Malaysia: 2 slots each
- MLBB Championship Tour (MCT) Southeast Asia: 2 slots
- EMEA: 2 slots; EECA: 1 slot
- MCT East Asia and MCT Americas: 1 slot each
- Wild Card: 3 slots
The Wild Card in Bangkok grows to 10 teams, including three from Southeast Asia. Teams play in two groups of five in single round-robin best-of-ones. Each group winner advances, and the second- and third-placed teams play a cross-group best-of-five bracket for the final place.
MCT SEA: the route for smaller markets
The new MCT SEA, set for ICONSIAM in Bangkok from 9 to 13 December, gives the rest of the region its path. Twelve teams from 11 Southeast Asian markets take part, including MPL Singapore champions TEAM EVIL and Myanmar's Falcon Esports. The top two qualify for the Main Stage, while third and fourth go to the Wild Card.
There is also a Malaysian interest beyond SRG and Team Rey. The champions of the MLBB Academy League (MAL) Malaysia will compete in an Open League Qualifier group with the MDL Philippines and MDL Indonesia champions for one knockout place. The Philippine side will be Falcons Academy, who beat Team Fuego 4-1 in the MDL PH final.
Main Stage format and tickets
In Istanbul, 16 teams play a five-round Swiss stage, with three wins needed to advance and three losses meaning elimination. The top eight enter a double-elimination knockout stage at ESA Espor Arena from 14 to 19 January 2027, with best-of-three matches moving to best-of-five and a best-of-seven grand final at Ora Arena. The total prize pool is US$1 million.
Moonton says early-bird knockout-stage tickets on Biletix start at 150 Turkish lira and are on sale until 21 November. Gen-M verification for fans runs from 7 to 12 November, ahead of early-bird grand final sales from 18 to 21 November.
Key takeaways
- Aurora Gaming PH, Team Falcons PH, Selangor Red Giants and Team Rey have qualified for the M8 Main Stage.
- Indonesia's two representatives will be decided by the MPL ID S18 playoffs, ending on 8 November.
- MCT SEA in Bangkok from 9 to 13 December sends two teams to the Main Stage and two to the Wild Card.
- The M8 knockout stage runs from 14 to 19 January 2027 in Istanbul, with a US$1 million prize pool.
FAQ
How many teams play in the M8 Main Stage? Sixteen teams, decided through regional leagues, the MCT circuits and a 10-team Wild Card stage in Bangkok that sends three teams through.
Can a Malaysian team still qualify for M8 through MCT SEA? Yes, potentially. The MAL Malaysia champion enters the MCT SEA Open League Qualifier group, which offers one place in the knockout stage.
Who are the defending M-Series champions? Aurora Gaming PH, who beat Alter Ego 4-0 in the M7 final in Jakarta in January 2026.
Sources: Moonton, esports.gg, The Philippine Star, Pokde, EsportsID, Wikipedia