| 2023 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | eSports |
| Dates | June 10, 2023–June 18, 2023 |
| Administrator | Moonton |
Tournament format(s) | Single Round Robin (Group Stage) Single Elimination (Playoffs) |
| Host(s) |  Cambodia |
| Venue(s) | Aeon Mall Mean Chey |
| Teams | 12 |
| Purse | $300,000 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  ONIC Esports (2nd Title) |
| 1st runners-up |  Blacklist International |
| 2nd runners-up | ECHO Philippines |
The 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asian Cup, commonly referred as MSC 2023, was the sixth iteration of the tournament for the game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
MSC 2023 oversaw an increase of team representation from different regions of the World including North America, Turkey and MENA.[1] The qualification for MSC 2023 happened during the course of the spring-split of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) seasons prior to the tournament. MLBB powerhouses of the Philippines[2][3] and Indonesia[4][5] qualified its champions and runner-up teams, while the remaining regions qualified the champions of their respective region.[6] However, with the lack of compliance as per the MLBB Rulebook for MSC 2023, North American Champions BloodThirstyKings were disqualified from the tournament. In replacement, Outplayed Esports will be representing the region.
The hashtag "#SEATheWorld" was used as the official hashtag during the course of the eight-day tournament.[7]
Blacklist International and ONIC Esports will once again face in a grand finals matchup. The most-recent matchup in the grand finals for both teams was during MPLI 2021 where ONIC Esports defeated Blacklist in four games.[8] After being withheld of an international title since 2019, Indonesia returned for revenge in MSC 2022[9] with ONIC Esports winning their second MSC Title since 2019.[10] They defeated Blacklist International in six games,[11] ending the subsequent dominance of the Philippines over Southeast Asia.
Background
On March 14, 2023, Moonton announced their partnership with the Esports Federation of Cambodia (EFC) to "co-promote the growth of the local esports industry and enhance the competitive gaming landscape of the country." Hence, declaring Cambodia to be the hosts for MSC 2023.[12] The announcement of Cambodia's hosting for MSC 2023 was also announced during the MLBB M4 World Championship.[13]
Tournament format
Group stage
The Group Draw results were announced in Social Media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.[14][15] Among the twelve participating teams, every group will be drawn a designated champion from the regions of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar and the remaining teams will be drawn evenly. Each group will undergo a single round-robin tournament with a match being a best-of-three.[16]
The top two teams of each group will advance to a bracket draw for the playoffs and the third-seeded team of each group will be eliminated.[17]
Playoffs
Unlike the previous iteration of the tournament, MSC 2023 will have a single-elimination bracket with games, apart from the Grand Finals being a best-of-five series.[18] Teams that lost in the Semifinals will proceed for the third-place match.[19] The Grand Finals bout is scheduled for June 18, 2023 with a best-of-seven series.
Participating teams
MSC 2023 expanded its regional qualifications, qualifying teams from Turkey, North America and MENA in the process.
| Region | League | Qualification Method | Team | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | MPL Philippines | MPL-PH S11 Champions | ECHO Philippines |
A |
| MPL-PH S11 Runner-Up | Blacklist International |
D | ||
| Indonesia | MPL Indonesia | MPL-ID S11 Champions | ONIC Esports |
C |
| MPL-ID S11 Runner-Up | EVOS Legends |
B | ||
| Malaysia | MPL Malaysia | MPL-MY S11 Champions |  TODAK |
D |
| Myanmar | MPL Myanmar | MSC 2023 Qualifiers - Myanmar |  Fenix Esports |
B |
| Singapore | MPL Singapore | MPL-SG S5 Champions |  RSG Slate Singapore |
B |
| Cambodia | MPL Cambodia | MPL-KH Spring Split Champions | Burn X Flash |
C |
| MEKONG | MPL MEKONG Qualifiers | MPL MEKONG Qualifying Team |  Team EVO |
A |
| North America | NACT | NACT 2023 Champions |  |
Disqualified |
| NACT 2023 Runner-Up | Outplayed Esports |
C | ||
| Turkey | MTC Turkiye Championship | MTC Turkiye Championship S1 Champions |  Fire Flux Impunity |
A |
| MENA | MPL MENA | MPL MENA Spring 2023 |  Team Occupy |
D |
Group draw results
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECHO Philippines |
Fenix Esports |
ONIC Esports |
TODAK |
| Fire Flux Impunity |
RSG Slate Singapore |
Outplayed Esports |
Blacklist International |
| Team EVO |
EVOS Legends |
Burn X Flash |
Team Occupy |
Group stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ECHO |
FFI |
EVO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ECHO Philippines |
2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 2 | Qualified for the Knockout Stage | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | Fire Flux Impunity |
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 1 | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Team EVO |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 | Eliminated | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | RSG-SG |
EVOS |
FEN | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RSG Slate Singapore |
2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 2 | Qualified for the Knockout Stage | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | EVOS Legends |
2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Fenix Esports |
2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 | Eliminated | 0–2 | 1–2 | — |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ONIC |
BXF |
OP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ONIC Esports |
2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | 2 | Qualified for the Knockout Stage | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | Burn X Flash |
2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0–2 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Outplay |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 | Eliminated | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BLCK |
TDK |
OPY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blacklist International |
2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 2 | Qualified for the Knockout Stage | — | 2–1 | 2–0 | |
| 2 | TODAK |
2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 1 | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | ||
| 3 | Team Occupy |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 | Eliminated | 0–2 | 0–2 | — |
Playoffs
| Knockout Stage (Best of 5) | Semifinals (Best of 5) | Grand Finals (Best of 7) | |||||||||
| RSG Slate Singapore
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Burn X Flash
| 3 | ||||||||||
| Blacklist International
| 3 | ||||||||||
| Burn X Flash
| 1 | ||||||||||
| Blacklist International
| 3 | ||||||||||
| Fire Flux Impunity
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Blacklist International
| 2 | ||||||||||
| ONIC Esports
| 4 | ||||||||||
| ECHO Philippines
| 3 | ||||||||||
| TODAK
| 1 | ||||||||||
| ECHO Philippines
| 0 | Third Place (Best of 5) | |||||||||
| ONIC Esports
| 3 | ||||||||||
| ONIC Esports
| 3 | Burn X Flash
| 2 | ||||||||
| EVOS Legends
| 0 | ECHO Philippines
| 3 | ||||||||
See also
References
- ↑ Rossel, John Dave (2023-02-18). "MSC 2023 Regions Revealed Featuring North America, Turkey, and MENA". AFK Gaming. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ Coloma, Angela (May 6, 2023). "MPL Season 11: Blacklist secures first slot to MSC 2023". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
- ↑ Galindo, Daryll. "ECHO sweeps Blacklist International to claim MPL PH Season 11 trophy". esports.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "ONIC Esports secures back-to-back MPL ID titles | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ Rossel, John Dave (2023-04-10). "ONIC Esports Crowned as Champion of MPL ID Season 11". AFK Gaming. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "MSC 2023: Full list of all teams qualified | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "MSC 2023". msc.mobilelegends.com. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ Rossel, John Dave (2021-11-07). "ONIC Esports is the Crowned Champion of the MPLI 2021". AFK Gaming. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ UBALDO, JOHN EDISON (2022-06-19). "RSG Philippines takes MSC 2022 crown with commanding sweep of RRQ Hoshi". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "Indonesia's ONIC Esports takes MSC 2019 crown | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "@Txtmlbb". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "Cambodia set to host MSC 2023 in June". GMA News Online. 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ OUR JOURNEY IN 2023 | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports Road Map #DareToBeGreat #MLBBM4, retrieved 2023-06-18
- ↑ "Mobile Legends Esports - The official Group Draw Results announcement for MSC 2023 is here! ⚠️ Share your predictions for the four teams that will emerge as champions in the Group Stage in the comments section! 😎 Don't forget to cheer for your favorite team and join the #SEATheWorld movement! 🔥 ⬇️ More information about MSC 2023: 📍Venue: AEON MALL MEAN CHEY, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 🗓Date: June 10th - 18th, 2023 #SEATheWorld #MSC2023 #MLBBEsports | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "MLBB Esports Official Account on Instagram: "The official Group Draw Results announcement for MSC 2023 is here! ⚠️ Share your predictions for the four teams that will emerge as champions in the Group Stage in the comments section! 😎 Don't forget to cheer for your favorite team and join the #SEATheWorld movement! 🔥 ⬇️ More information about MSC 2023: 📍Venue: AEON MALL MEAN CHEY, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 🗓Date: June 10th - 18th, 2023 #SEATheWorld #MSC2023 #MLBBEsports"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "MLBB SEA Cup 2023: Teams, format, and Rune Sentinel Atlas Skin". Esports.gg. 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ "MSC 2023 knockout stage: Schedule, results, where to watch ONE Esports | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ Maarif, Syamsul Dwi. "Jadwal Playoff MSC 2023, Format, Bracket, Lawan ONIC & EVOS". tirto.id (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-06-18.
- ↑ Coloma, Angela (June 17, 2023). "MSC 2023: Kairi, Onic Esports eliminate ECHO in shock 0-3 sweep". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 18, 2023.