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"Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Unveils New Tournament Format for 2025 Mid Season Cup at Esports World Cup"

Author:Kristen Update:Apr 27,2026

"Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Unveils New Tournament Format for 2025 Mid Season Cup at Esports World Cup"

- Wild Card stage now follows a BO3 double-elimination format

- The Group Stage will also be BO3 double-elimination while giving clean record holders a bonus

- Knockouts will be BO5, while the finale will culminate in a BO7 showdown

The stakes have just been raised for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at the 2025 Esports World Cup, as Moonton has rolled out a newly revamped tournament format for the Mid Season Cup (MSC). It has been built around the theme #EncounterTheUnknown, bringing structural overhauls and a prize pool that remains firmly at USD 3 million.

One of the major updates of the MLBB MSC 2025 is a shift in format for both the Wild Card and Group Stage, designed to emphasise consistency, adaptability, and depth. The Wild Card phase now uses a Best-of-Three (BO3) GSL double-elimination format, replacing the older single-round-robin approach.

The eight Wild Card teams will be divided into two groups, with the top two from each advancing to a cross-group Semi Final. Winners from that round will face off in a BO5 showdown, with only one team securing a spot in the main event.

The Group Stage also undergoes a shakeup, moving from BO2 to a BO3 double-elimination format. With 16 teams split into two groups, only the top four in each bracket will advance to the Knockout Stage.

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Here, a new draw mechanic comes into play. Teams with a clean 2-0 record can choose their Knockout opponents from the pool of 2-1 teams. The fastest team in terms of total match time gets first pick, adding an extra edge to every minute of competition.

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This year’s MSC also introduces a third-place match for the first time, giving Semi Finalists one more shot at a podium finish. The Knockout Stage will run BO5 single elimination, with the Grand Finals expanding to a Best-of-Seven for the ultimate showdown.

The prize pool remains at $3 million, with $1 million going to the champions, $500,000 to the runners-up, and $250,000 reserved for third place - a bump from last year’s $200,000.