MPL PH Season 18 playoffs begin: Liquid chase fourth straight title as two M8 spots on line

The race for the Philippines' Mobile Legends: Bang Bang crown starts today. The MPL Philippines Season 18 playoffs run from Wednesday, 21 October to Sunday, 25 October at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City, with six teams chasing the title and, more importantly for many, the country's two places at the M8 World Championship. Because the Philippines shares Malaysia's UTC+8 time zone, every match starts at the same clock time for viewers in Malaysia.

Who is in the playoffs

Defending champions Team Liquid PH and Team Falcons PH dominated the regular season, both finishing with 12-2 records. Liquid took the top seed, while Falcons were second, and both earned byes into the upper bracket semifinals.

ONIC PH and Aurora Gaming PH both closed the regular season at 9-5, with Smart Omega and TNC Pro Team taking the final two playoff places. AP Bren and Twisted Minds PH missed out.

Liquid are chasing history. They beat Falcons 4-2 in the Season 17 grand final on 31 May 2026 to complete a third consecutive league title, and another win would make it four in a row. Falcons, runners-up last season, have been the one team able to match Liquid's pace this year.

Schedule in Malaysia time

All times below are Malaysia time, which is the same as Philippine time.

• Wednesday 21 Oct: ONIC PH vs TNC Pro Team, 3pm; Aurora Gaming PH vs Smart Omega, 7pm
• Thursday 22 Oct: Upper bracket semifinals, Team Falcons PH vs TBD, 3pm; Team Liquid PH vs TBD, 7pm
• Friday 23 Oct: Lower bracket semifinal and upper bracket final
• Saturday 24 Oct: Lower bracket final
• Sunday 25 Oct: Grand final

With only one lower bracket semifinal in the schedule, the losers of Wednesday's opening matches are eliminated, while the two upper bracket semifinal losers get a second chance.

Storylines to watch

Aurora Gaming PH, crowned M7 world champions, arrive with a heavily rebuilt roster that took time to settle during the regular season. ONIC PH have yet to beat either Liquid or Falcons in a series this season, so a run to the final would mark a clear step forward. Smart Omega reshuffled more than any other team in the off-season, while TNC Pro Team scraped into the top six despite a difficult campaign.

Wednesday's winners will face the top two seeds on Thursday, which means at least one of the M7 champions or ONIC will get an immediate shot at Liquid or Falcons.

The road to M8

The two grand finalists will represent the Philippines at M8, which is set for Istanbul, Turkey, in January 2027. Philippine teams have a strong record at the M-series world championships, so these places carry real weight across the region, including for Malaysian fans who will see their own MPL MY representatives drawn into the same global event.

The playoffs also come at a large venue for the league. PhilSports Arena, managed by the Philippine Sports Commission, will hold around 4,000 fans for the stage set-up, and a fan festival returns outside the arena. Meanwhile, MPL Malaysia's own Season 18 playoffs begin a week later, on 28 October.

Key takeaways

• MPL PH Season 18 playoffs run 21-25 October at PhilSports Arena, Pasig City.
• Team Liquid PH and Team Falcons PH both went 12-2 and start in the upper bracket semifinals.
• Liquid are bidding for a fourth consecutive MPL PH title.
• The two grand finalists qualify for M8 in Istanbul in January 2027.
• Match times in the Philippines are identical to Malaysia time.

FAQ Q: What time do MPL PH Season 18 playoff matches start in Malaysia? A: Wednesday and Thursday matches start at 3pm and 7pm Malaysia time, the same as Philippine time.

Q: Which teams have qualified for the MPL PH Season 18 playoffs? A: Team Liquid PH, Team Falcons PH, ONIC PH, Aurora Gaming PH, Smart Omega and TNC Pro Team.

Q: How many M8 spots are available from MPL PH? A: Two. Both grand finalists qualify for the M8 World Championship.

Sources: Dot Esports, esports.gg, The Philippine Star, Wikipedia