MLBB Reveals 2025 Mid-Season Cup Format at Esports World Cup

• The Wild Card stage now features a BO3 double-elimination format.
• The Group Stage will also be a BO3 double-elimination bracket, rewarding teams with undefeated records a bonus advantage.
• Knockout matches will be played as BO5 series, while the Grand Final will be an epic BO7 clash.

The competitive intensity has been elevated for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at the 2025 Esports World Cup. Moonton has introduced a completely redesigned tournament structure for the Mid Season Cup (MSC), centered on the theme #EncounterTheUnknown. This overhaul includes significant format changes, while the total prize pool remains a substantial USD 3 million.

A key change for the MLBB MSC 2025 is a new competitive format for both the Wild Card and Group Stages, designed to test teams' consistency, adaptability, and strategic depth. The Wild Card phase has shifted from a single round-robin to a Best-of-Three (BO3) GSL double-elimination format.

Eight Wild Card teams will be split into two groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to a cross-group Semi Final. The winners of these semi-finals will then compete in a BO5 match, with just one team earning a coveted spot in the main event.

The Group Stage is also undergoing a major revision, moving from a BO2 to a BO3 double-elimination format. Sixteen teams will be divided into two groups, with only the top four from each group advancing to the Knockout Stage.

A new selection mechanic will be activated here. Teams that finish with a perfect 2-0 record gain the ability to select their opponents for the Knockout Stage from the pool of teams that finished 2-1. The team with the fastest total match time gets to choose first, adding a strategic layer to the speed of every victory.

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This year’s MSC introduces a third-place match for the first time, offering Semi Finalists another opportunity to secure a podium finish. The Knockout Stage will utilize a BO5 single-elimination format, with the Grand Finals expanding to a demanding Best-of-Seven series to crown the ultimate champion.

The total prize pool is set at $3 million. The champions will receive $1 million, the runners-up will get $500,000, and $250,000 is allocated for third place—an increase from the previous year's $200,000 prize.