M8 World Championship Finals Set for Turkey, Wildcard in Bangkok

MOONTON Games announced on April 22 at the M7 World Championship Grand Finals that the M8 World Championship finals will be held in Turkey, while the Wildcard Stage will take place in Bangkok, Thailand.

The M8 finals will be the first time the series’ championship match is hosted outside Southeast Asia. Previous finals have been held in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Manila and Selangor. The 2026 competitive season coincides with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s 10th anniversary.

MOONTON stated its plans for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang at the Esports World Cup 2026 under a “Two Champions, One Game” structure. The company said the MLBB Women’s International will be rebranded as a global women’s world championship with open qualifiers across more than 60 regions and new Western Europe qualifiers.

The MWI finals will be held in Saudi Arabia with a $500,000 prize pool. The Mid Season Cup will return in 2026 with new qualification pathways for India, Thailand, South Korea and Western Europe.

MOONTON announced the MSC and MWI will offer a combined $3.5 million prize pool, the largest amount allocated to a single esports title at the Esports World Cup 2026.

The company noted strong peak viewership for the M7 World Championship and added that Southeast Asia remains the game’s largest market. The Wildcard Stage in Bangkok will precede the main event in Turkey, and MOONTON added that full dates and venues will be announced closer to the 2026 season.

Ray Ng, Head of Global Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, commented: “The MWI’s evolution into the MLBB Women’s International reflects where the ecosystem is today. Our ambition is to set the standard for how global esports ecosystems are built. By positioning MWI alongside MSC, we are creating a unified platform where talent is recognized on the same stage, regardless of background.”