Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was the most watched mobile esports game in 2022 with 331.47 million hours watched according to data provider Escharts. 2023 is expected to be another big year for the title with some of the biggest and most thrilling Mobile Legends tournaments set to take place, with top teams and players from all over the globe competing for glory and big cash prizes.
If you’re new to the Mobile Legends competitive scene and aren’t familiar with its governing events, you’re about to understand just how far one of the most popular mobile esports titles in the world has become.
Here are the best Mobile Legends tournaments 2023 has in store for you.
The Biggest Mobile Legends Tournaments to Know About
Here we’ll be identifying and discussing the most prestigious MLBB tournaments of the year. It doesn’t matter if you’re a longtime fan of MLBB or if you’re just starting out – this guide has everything you need to know about the biggest events in the MLBB competitive scene in 2023. So let’s get started and explore the top MLBB tournaments of the year together!
M World Championship
Image Credit: Moonton
- Mobile Legends Tournament Prize: $800,000
The M World Championship is Mobile Legend’s crowning event. It’s where the best of the best face each other every year. And if you have a betting account with a little bit of dough in it, it’s also where you experience the peak of Mobile Legends betting.
Unlike with other Mobile Legends tournaments, 2023 will only produce one flagship event: the M5 World Championship. It will be the fifth World Championship in ML’s history (hence the 5). At the time of writing, it’s scheduled to be hosted by the Philippines at the end of the year, which means even though you’ve never heard of the game before, there’s more than enough time to catch up.
Just who compete in this massive event?
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL)
- Mobile Legends Tournament Prize: ~$100,000 – $150,000
For the most part, the answer is the champions (sometimes also the runners-up) of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, better known as the MPL.
Currently, there are 9 such leagues spread across the globe.
MPL PH – The Philippine Professional League
Image Credit: MPL PH
MPL Philippines has been the most dominant of all ML leagues. The region currently holds 3 M World Championship titles—all won consecutively for the past two years starting in M2 in 2021.
The extreme level of competition here makes esports betting in the Philippines an electrifying experience.
MPL ID – The Indonesian Professional League
Image Credit: MPL ID
MPL Indonesia is the epitome of Indonesian ML. It has some of the best Mobile Legends players and some of the most passionate teams in the game. Back in 2019, Indonesia brought home the first-ever M World Championship title, an achievement that’s likely to happen again.
The massive volume and the devoted attitude of players in this region all add to the resounding hype surrounding Indonesian ML betting.
MPL MY – The Malaysian Professional League
Image Credit: MPL MY
With MPL Malaysia following MPL PH and MPL ID, the Big Three of the current ML competitive landscape is complete. Like the two other leagues, MPL MY had 2 slots in the previous M World Championship (M4).
One of the most consistent regions, Malaysia finished 3 M World Championships (M1, M2, and M3) no lower than 5-6th. There’s a fine line between underdogs and favorites, meaning gaps in the odds are typical.
MPL SG – The Singaporean Professional League
Image Credit: MPL SG
Instead of 2, only 1 representative is now taken from MPL Singapore—the champion. This is evidence that the ML international scene is evolving, not at all that Singaporean ML is weakening.
Because MPL SG constantly sees new names and brands every season, bettors who want to focus on underdogs and ride a rags-to-riches story on the way up will find this region interesting.
MPL KH – The Cambodian Professional League
Image Credit: MPL KH
The continuing influx of newer ML teams entering the Cambodian ML league has turned the region into a total mixed bag. You never know which team will rise or fall. In the 3 most recent M World Championships, 3 different Cambodian teams competed.
For bettors, this means there’s really no clear favorite to back and that the odds are tied more to recent results and whims of bookmakers rather than reliable patterns.
MPL MENA – The Middle Eastern and North African Professional League
Image Credit: MPL MENA
MPL MENA is filled with a ton of never-before-seen players and names. That said, this league plays with unknown variables more than any other league, which is what bettors who love to make bold bets are most attracted to.
MLSL North & South – The Latin American Professional League
Image Credit: NACT
When North American team BloodThirstyKings (BTK) finished 3rd in the M3 World Championship, the American region nearly silenced everyone who doubted the West. Now that leagues have been established in Northern and Southern Latin America, this is the region to look out for if you’re a punter expecting a historical esports breakthrough.
MPL BR – The Brazilian Professional League
Image Credit: BR
Brazil has always been an active player when it comes to esports. They have a strong presence in titles like Dota 2, CSGO, and Valorant. This makes their appearance on the ML world stage highly anticipated by bettors who believe the Brazilian mobile esports spirit will finally reach its next level.
Brazil finished higher than Malaysia in M4 (7th-8th compared to 9th-12th). If you think their success will carry over into the next World Championship, pay attention to this region.
Mobile Legends Tournaments 2023: Southeast Asian Games
- Mobile Legends Tournament Prize: Bronze, Silver, & Gold Medal. (The cash prize associated with each medal is not disclosed).
The biennial Southeast Asian Games expected to begin on 5 to 17 May and take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia will be the third SEA Games to include esports. In total, 11 Southeast Asian nations will compete in a variety of PC and mobile-based titles, among them Valorant, Wild Rift, Arena of Valor, PUBG Mobile, and finally, Mobile Legends—the only game assigned with a men’s and women’s team.
Despite the number of participants, only those with an entry will have a chance to secure a podium finish. Still, for all involved, there’s much pride to uphold that extends to a national level.
You definitely don’t want to miss such a high-stakes event.
Mobile Legends Tournaments in 2023: Honorable Mentions
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) – Not to be confused with the MLBB event of the SEA Games. This is the second-most prestigious ML annual event.
- World Cyber Games 2023 – A Mobile Legends international tournament scheduled in June. The WCG is considered the Olympics of esports.
- Qualifiers – For regions that don’t have a professional league (Turkey, Vietnam, Myanmar), the Qualifiers determine who’s going to advance to the World Championship. These events follow a streamlined Mobile Legends tournament format.
Growing Opportunities: The Expansion and Future of Mobile Legends
The Mobile Legends pro circuit may not be as grand as those in PC MOBA games like Dota 2 and League of Legends, but it’s growing. The introduction of a second-tier professional league this year (MLBB Development League or MDL), gives even more room for new up-and-coming teams and players. This means more ML events and longer betting seasons for ML fans who want to have skin in the game.
Meanwhile, regions across the world, particularly in the West, are seeing an increase in ML interest reflected by the proliferation of teams. The Americas and the Middle East are represented now more than ever, and it’s only a matter of time before Europe makes an appearance (as it did in the M3 World Championship in the form of NAVI).
