The competitive male and female tournaments for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games have finished, with the Philippines and Malaysia earning top honors in their respective divisions.
These victories were monumental for both participating nations. The Philippines notably claimed its fourth straight gold medal in the men’s MLBB division. Conversely, Malaysia achieved its inaugural gold medal within the women’s category.
Held in Thailand, the 2025 Southeast Asian Games features esports as an official medal discipline. Consequently, any medals awarded in these events contribute to the formal national medal count for the competing nations.
The Philippines Achieves Overwhelming Success in the MLBB Men’s Division
Within the MLBB men’s competition, the Philippines displayed absolute superiority. The squad entered the championship as the reigning titleholders and the top contenders, a prediction they thoroughly fulfilled.
The Philippine team found itself in a challenging bracket alongside Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Laos. Nevertheless, the squad asserted its dominance, prevailing in every single match to secure the leading position.
This strong performance continued into the playoff stage, where the Philippines encountered Indonesia in the semi-finals. Although Indonesia managed to secure the first game of the series, the Philippines executed an impeccable reverse sweep, advancing to the grand finals and thereby ensuring at least a silver medal.
During the final contest for the gold medal, the Filipino contingent effortlessly defeated Malaysia with a 4–0 victory. Notably, the second game concluded in under 10 minutes. Indonesia claimed the bronze medal by winning the match for third place.
Malaysia Claims Inaugural MLBB Gold Medal
Malaysia, an emerging power within MLBB esports, achieved a historic milestone in the women’s competition by earning its initial gold medal in the title. This win also represented the nation’s second gold in the esports section, following a victory in Magic Chess: Go Go (MGCC). The MGCC gold, however, was obtained in an exhibition match.
Competing in a bracket structure closely mirroring the men’s division, Malaysia ultimately confronted the Philippines in the decisive gold medal contest. On this occasion, the encounter proved far more competitive, extending to a seventh and final match, where Malaysia ultimately triumphed, clinching the series 4-3.
Following the conclusion of the events, Ray Ng, the Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, remarked: “With the conclusion of MLBB’s involvement at the 33rd SEA Games, this championship offers more than just champions—it solidifies esports’ position in the athletic landscape of the region, creating a future where digital and conventional sports stand side-by-side, driven by national honor and the quest for supremacy.”
Furthermore, MLBB has been confirmed as an official medal event for the 2026 Asian Games, signifying its inaugural inclusion in that prestigious multi-sport competition.
