The new MSC format will introduce the biggest structural changes in tournament history when Mobile Legends: Bang Bang returns to the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC).
A revamped competition system has been designed to raise the stakes across both the Mid Season Cup (MSC) and the new MLBB Women’s International (MWI) format, Moonton announced on May 30, 2026.
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The changes arrive as both tournaments prepare for their largest editions yet. With more regions joining the international MLBB ecosystem and competition becoming increasingly fierce, the new formats aim to create a more demanding path to championship glory.
Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at Moonton Games, said the changes reflect the growing strength of teams worldwide and form part of the company’s long-term strategy to elevate MLBB as a leading global esports title.
New MSC format: Expanded Wild Card stage explained
The headline change in the new MSC format is the expansion of the Wild Card stage, which will now feature 10 teams as part of a 25-team championship field.
To accommodate the larger lineup, the Wild Card is split into three phases.
| MSC 2026 WILD CARD PHASE | FORMAT | HOW IT PLAYS OUT |
| Phase 1 | Best-of-One single round-robin, with the 10 teams divided into two groups. | The top team from each group advances directly to Phase 3. The bottom teams are eliminated. The remaining six teams move on to Phase 2. |
| Phase 2 | MSC’s first-ever cross-group gauntlet system. | Fourth-placed teams will face third-placed teams, with winners advancing to challenge second-placed finishers. The surviving teams then earn a place in the final phase. |
| Phase 3 | Cross-group Best-of-Three single-elimination bracket. | The remaining four teams engage in a Cross-group Best-of-Three single-elimination bracket. The last standing team secures a place in the Group Stage. |
How the new MSC format changes the Group Stage
Under the new MSC format, the final 16 teams will compete in two groups using a Best-of-Three double-elimination format.
The top four teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage, where the remaining eight contenders will battle through a Best-of-Five single-elimination bracket.
Moonton will also bring back Best-of-Five Semifinals to determine third place before concluding the tournament with a Best-of-Seven Grand Final.
The new MSC format places greater emphasis on consistency than previous editions. With three Wild Card phases and a gauntlet stage, teams can no longer rely on a single upset victory to reach the main event.
The expanded qualification path rewards adaptability and endurance, particularly for teams from emerging regions seeking a breakthrough on the international stage.
New MWI format expands opportunities for women’s esports
Alongside the new MSC format, Moonton also introduced a new MWI format for what will be the largest edition of MLBB Women’s International to date.
Earlier this year, the company officially rebranded the competition from MLBB Women’s Invitational to MLBB Women’s International, reflecting its transition into a fully global championship.
The tournament now includes open qualifiers across more than 60 regions, while Western Europe will receive dedicated qualifiers for the first time.
Under the new MWI format, 16 teams will be divided into two groups and compete in a Best-of-Three double-elimination Group Stage. The top four teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage.
New MWI format adds seeded knockout matchups
One of the biggest additions in the new MWI format is the introduction of seeded Knockout Stage matchups.
Teams advancing through the Upper Bracket will gain a significant advantage: the four Upper Bracket qualifiers will be placed into Pool 1 and ranked using a tie-breaking hierarchy before selecting opponents from Pool 2, which consists of teams advancing through the Lower Bracket.
The Knockout Stage will be played in a Best-of-Three single-elimination format, while the Semifinals and Third Place Match will be contested as Best-of-Five series.
The tournament will conclude with a Best-of-Seven Grand Final to determine the champions.
A format change that reflects MLBB’s global ambitions
The introduction of the new MSC format comes as MLBB continues to expand its global esports footprint.
According to Esports Charts, MSC at EWC 2025 became the most-watched tournament in Esports World Cup history and the first event at the festival to surpass three million peak concurrent viewers.
MWI also achieved record numbers, reaching 496,995 peak concurrent viewers and becoming the first women’s esports tournament to exceed 100,000 average concurrent viewers.
Building on that momentum, Moonton unveiled its 2026 MLBB Esports Roadmap during the M7 World Championship Grand Finals. The initiative focuses on five key regions: Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, East Asia, and the Americas.
The publisher has also confirmed that the M8 World Championship Finals will be held in Türkiye, marking the first time MLBB’s flagship world championship will take place in Europe.
