M8 road map for Southeast Asia: MPL PH, MY and ID playoffs decide six of 16 Istanbul places
Three MPL playoffs in three weeks, in Pasig, Kuala Lumpur and Surabaya, will fill six of the 16 Main Stage places at M8. Here is the calendar and the other routes.
Three Southeast Asian leagues will name their M8 World Championship teams over the next three weeks. The MPL Philippines playoffs start on Wednesday 21 October, MPL Malaysia follows from 28 October, and MPL Indonesia ends the run from 4 November. Each league sends its top two teams straight to the M8 Main Stage in Istanbul, planned for January 2027.
The calendar
- MPL PH Season 18 playoffs: 21 to 25 October, PhilSports Arena, Pasig City.
- MPL MY Season 18 playoffs: 28 October to 1 November, Stadium Juara, Kuala Lumpur.
- MPL ID Season 18 playoffs: 4 to 8 November, Jatim Expo, Surabaya.
In each league the format is similar. The top six teams qualify, and the top two seeds get a bye to a double-elimination Round 2. Series are best-of-five, with best-of-seven in the lower bracket final and grand final. The two finalists in each league qualify for M8.
Who is still in
In Malaysia, Selangor Red Giants, Team Rey, Team Vamos, Invictus Gaming, Bigetron MY by Vitality and Team Flash made the top six. In Indonesia, Dot Esports lists NAVI, Team Liquid ID, Alter Ego, Bigetron by Vitality, EVOS and ONIC. In the Philippines, the top six are Team Liquid PH, Team Falcons PH, ONIC PH, Aurora Gaming PH, Omega Esports and TNC Pro Team, according to the same outlet's page, which was last updated on 14 October.
The other routes to Istanbul
M8 has a 16-team Main Stage. According to Esports.gg, the slots break down as follows:
- MPL ID, MPL PH and MPL MY: two each
- MLBB Championship Tour (MCT) Southeast Asia: two
- Europe, Middle East and Africa: two
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia, MCT East Asia, MCT Americas: one each
- Wild Card winners: three
The Wild Card stage will be held in Bangkok with 10 teams, up from eight at M7. Southeast Asia has three of those places. The three best Wild Card teams reach the Main Stage.
What MCT SEA adds
MCT SEA is a new competition and the first MCT event to feed into the M-Series. Esports.gg says it has 12 teams from 11 Southeast Asian markets and a US$50,000 prize pool, with a start in the fourth quarter of 2026. Its top two teams go straight to the Main Stage. The third and fourth place teams go to the Wild Card in Bangkok. Exact dates have not been announced.
The champions of Academy League Malaysia, MDL Philippines and MDL Indonesia take part in a separate Open League group for a chance to reach the MCT SEA playoffs, according to Gizmologi. It is an extra route and not a guaranteed place.
Key takeaways
- MPL PH, MY and ID playoffs run in sequence from 21 October to 8 November.
- Each league sends its top two teams to the M8 Main Stage in Istanbul.
- MCT SEA offers two more direct places, plus Wild Card chances in Bangkok.
- M8 is planned for January 2027, the first M-Series in Europe.
FAQ
Q: How many Malaysian teams can reach M8 through MPL MY? Two. The finalists of the MPL MY Season 18 playoffs earn direct Main Stage places.
Q: Where is the M8 Wild Card stage? It is in Bangkok, Thailand, and has 10 teams. Three of them move on to the Main Stage.
Q: When is M8? M8 is planned for January 2027 in Istanbul, Turkey. Exact dates were not confirmed in the sources checked.
Sources: Dot Esports, Esports.gg, Moonton, Gizmologi, SAYS, Esportsverse