M8 World Championship race: who has qualified as MPL Malaysia playoffs open the door to Istanbul

The field for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M8 World Championship is starting to take shape. Three teams have secured places in the 16-team Main Stage, and with the MPL Malaysia Season 18 playoffs starting on Wednesday 28 October and MPL Indonesia's playoffs following on 4 November, four more tickets will be handed out in the next fortnight. The tournament moves to Europe for the first time, with the Main Stage in Istanbul, Türkiye, in January 2027.

Who is already in

• Aurora Gaming PH (MPL Philippines): The Season 18 champions beat Team Falcons PH 4-2 in the grand final.
• Team Falcons PH (MPL Philippines): Runners-up in Season 18, they qualified through their playoff run.
• Team Falcons (MPL MENA): Won MPL MENA Season 10, beating Titan Esports Club 4-2 in the final.

Two Wild Card places are also confirmed. Titan Esports Club take MENA's second spot, and Thailand's Leon Esports, champions of MSL Thailand Season 2, chose a Wild Card berth rather than going through MCT SEA.

Aurora will arrive in Istanbul as the reigning world champions. A successful defence would be a first in M-Series history, and the Philippines have produced the world champion at every edition since M2.

How the M8 slots are shared out

The Main Stage has 16 teams. MPL Indonesia, MPL Philippines and MPL Malaysia have two direct places each, as do MCT SEA and the EMEA region. EECA, MCT East Asia and MCT Americas have one each. The last three places go to the winners of the Wild Card stage, a 10-team event being held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Malaysia's turn

Two Main Stage places are on offer in the MPL MY Season 18 playoffs, which start on 28 October. SRG and Team Rey have earned byes, while six more teams fight through the early rounds for the chance to join them. With only two tickets available, the playoff bracket effectively doubles as Malaysia's M8 qualifier, and the regular season's form will count for little once the knockout matches begin. Malaysian teams have long been among the strongest challengers to the Philippine sides, and the country's two representatives will be expected to push for a deep run when the M-Series heads to Europe.

Indonesia and the rest of the race

MPL Indonesia's six-team playoffs run from 4 to 8 November at the Jatim International Expo Convention in Surabaya. The two finalists qualify for the Main Stage. Day one pits Alter Ego against ONIC and Bigetron by Vitality against EVOS, with the winners meeting NAVI and Team Liquid ID respectively. Matches are best-of-five, with a best-of-seven grand final.

Türkiye's MTC Season 8 has one Main Stage and one Wild Card place to award, with the grand final on 7 November. MCT SEA, which includes teams from Thailand and Myanmar, is held in December, with the top two qualifying for the Main Stage and the third- and fourth-placed teams going to the Wild Card.

Key takeaways

• Aurora PH, Team Falcons PH and Team Falcons (MENA) have qualified for the M8 Main Stage.
• Leon Esports and Titan Esports Club hold Wild Card places.
• MPL MY Season 18 playoffs, starting 28 October, will send two Malaysian teams to Istanbul.
• MPL ID's playoffs in Surabaya, from 4 to 8 November, decide Indonesia's two places.

FAQ

Where is the M8 World Championship being held? The Main Stage is in Istanbul, Türkiye, in January 2027, with the Wild Card stage in Bangkok, Thailand.

How many Malaysian teams can qualify for M8? MPL Malaysia has two direct Main Stage places, and both will be decided by the Season 18 playoffs that start on 28 October.

Who has qualified for M8 so far? Aurora Gaming PH, Team Falcons PH and Team Falcons (MENA) on the Main Stage, plus Wild Card teams Titan Esports Club and Leon Esports.

Sources: Players.com.ua, Esports.gg, Philstar, detikInet