The M7 World Championship became one of the largest tournaments in the history of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Held in January 2026 in Jakarta, the event featured a $1,000,000 prize pool and brought together the strongest teams from around the world.
The playoff format was Bo3, while the Grand Final was played as a Bo7.
The tournament champions were Aurora Gaming PH, who dominated throughout the entire playoff stage and closed out the Grand Final with a crushing 4:0 victory over Alter Ego.
Playoffs: Aurora Gaming’s Dominance
Aurora Gaming showcased confident and mature gameplay from the very first matches of the playoff stage.
Upper Bracket
- Aurora Gaming vs Team Liquid PH — 2:1
- Aurora Gaming vs Alter Ego — 3:1
- Aurora Gaming vs Selangor Red Giants — 3:2
These wins secured Aurora Gaming a direct spot in the Grand Final.
Lower Bracket
After losing to Aurora Gaming, Alter Ego regrouped and fought through a tough lower-bracket run:
- Alter Ego vs Team Spirit — 3:1
- Alter Ego vs Team Liquid PH — 3:2
- Alter Ego vs Selangor Red Giants — 3:1
As a result, the Indonesian squad reached the Grand Final, where they once again faced Aurora Gaming.
Grand Final: Complete Control of the Series
The final series was a clear demonstration of Aurora Gaming PH’s tactical and strategic superiority. The result was a 4:0 sweep in favor of the Philippine team.
Aurora Gaming fully controlled the pace of the game and left Alter Ego with no chance for a comeback.
Key factors behind the victory:
- dominance in the draft;
- full control of objectives;
- efficient and timely rotations;
- consistent and well-coordinated team fights;
- strong individual performances from the players.
Following the tournament, Aurora Gaming PH claimed the championship title and prize money of $320,000. Their victory at M7 was not just a triumph for a single team, but yet another confirmation of the Philippine scene’s dominance on the global stage.
Their road to the championship represents a perfect balance of mechanical skill, strategic thinking, and team synergy.
Aurora Gaming proved that in modern MLBB, victory depends not only on individual skill, but also on a systematic approach to the game.
Regional Dominance
For several years in a row, teams from the Philippines have dominated the global stage. Out of seven M-series tournaments, only one was won by an Indonesian team — all other titles were claimed by PH representatives.
In my opinion, it is extremely difficult for other regions to catch up with the Philippine scene. But why is that?
First, the Philippines were among the first to establish a fully franchised league. When a stable system exists, players understand where they are headed and what they are fighting for.
Second, a true MLBB culture has formed in the country. This results in a massive number of players aspiring to become professionals, meaning the talent pool is almost never depleted.
Third, there is well-structured youth development: MLBB tournaments are regularly held in schools and other educational institutions.
Fourth, all of the above has led to the creation of a powerful ecosystem of strong teams. Each of the eight teams in the Philippine league is potentially capable of defeating any team from another region. This means players train against the best in the world every day — and there is nothing more valuable than that kind of experience.
Fifth, MLBB still lacks a sufficient number of international tournaments. Teams from other regions only get 2–3 opportunities per year to play against top-tier opponents and gain the necessary experience.
At the moment, the only real threat to Philippine teams comes from Indonesian squads, where the situation is very similar. For other regions, the path to the top remains challenging, but there is also positive news: Moonton are gradually moving toward increasing the number of international tournaments. This means that over time, teams will gain that same invaluable experience without which competing for championships is impossible.
For now, we congratulate the winners and continue to closely follow upcoming tournaments.
As a reminder, the schedule for the first day of the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 group stage has been officially published.