MPL PH S18 playoffs: ONIC face TNC and Aurora meet Omega on 21 October as Liquid and Falcons wait
The MPL Philippines Season 18 playoffs start on 21 October at PhilSports Arena. Two M8 World Championship places are at stake.
The MPL Philippines Season 18 playoff schedule is set. ONIC PH play TNC Pro Team and Aurora Gaming PH meet Omega on the opening day, Wednesday, 21 October, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Team Liquid PH and Team Falcons PH have byes to the second round. The two teams that reach the grand final on Sunday, 25 October will represent the Philippines at the M8 World Championship.
Final regular-season table
Liquid PH and Falcons PH both finished 12-2. Liquid took first place on a better game record:
- Team Liquid PH: 12-2 (games 25-6)
- Team Falcons PH: 12-2 (games 26-10)
- ONIC PH: 9-5 (games 21-14)
- Aurora Gaming PH: 9-5 (games 20-13)
- Omega: 7-7 (games 15-18)
- TNC Pro Team: 4-10 (games 14-22)
- AP.Bren: 3-11
- Twisted Minds PH: 0-14
The top six qualified. AP.Bren and Twisted Minds PH are out.
How the playoffs work
Seeds three to six play a single-elimination first round. A loss there ends the team's season. The two winners then join Liquid PH and Falcons PH in a four-team double-elimination bracket. Most series are best-of-five. The lower bracket final and the grand final are best-of-seven.
The schedule below is in Philippine time, which is the same as Malaysia time:
- Wednesday, 21 October: ONIC PH vs TNC Pro Team (3pm), Aurora Gaming PH vs Omega (7pm)
- Thursday, 22 October: First-round winner vs Falcons PH (3pm), first-round winner vs Liquid PH (7pm)
- Friday, 23 October: Upper bracket final (3pm), lower bracket semi-final (7pm)
- Saturday, 24 October: Lower bracket final (5pm)
- Sunday, 25 October: Grand final (5pm)
Storylines to follow
Liquid PH lost only six games in 14 series, the fewest in the league, and start as the team to beat. Falcons PH won as many series as Liquid and will have the same day off before their first match.
The first-round matches look closer. ONIC PH and Aurora finished level on match points with the same game difference. ONIC PH now meet a TNC side that only just made the top six. Aurora face Omega, who finished exactly level at 7-7.
The double-elimination format also gives the top two some protection. A loss on 22 October drops Liquid PH or Falcons PH into the lower bracket instead of ending their season. That matters with M8 places at stake.
M8 in Istanbul
The two Philippine teams that qualify will travel to the M8 World Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, in January 2027. It will be the first M-series world championship held outside Southeast Asia. Malaysian fans can follow both leagues at once, as the MPL MY Season 18 regular season finishes around the same time.
Tickets and venue
MPL PH says about 4,000 seats will be available at PhilSports Arena because of the stage setup. Ticket sales opened on 26 September through the official MPL Philippines website, with prices starting at Php 200. The organisers have advised fans to buy only through the official site. A Superfan City fan festival will also run outside the arena as part of MLBB's 10th anniversary.
Key takeaways
- The MPL PH S18 playoffs run from 21 to 25 October at PhilSports Arena, Pasig City.
- ONIC PH vs TNC and Aurora vs Omega open the playoffs on 21 October at 3pm and 7pm (Malaysia time).
- Team Liquid PH and Team Falcons PH, both 12-2, go straight into the double-elimination round.
- The two grand finalists qualify for the M8 World Championship in Istanbul in January 2027.
FAQ
When do the MPL PH Season 18 playoffs start? On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The grand final is on Sunday, 25 October.
What time are the matches in Malaysia? The Philippines and Malaysia share the same time zone. The first matches start at 3pm and 7pm, and the grand final starts at 5pm.
How many MPL PH teams go to M8? Two. The playoffs decide the Philippines' two places at the M8 World Championship in Istanbul.
Sources: Dot Esports, MPL Philippines, Philstar, Moonton