MSC 2023

The 2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup, commonly referred as MSC 2023, was the sixth edition of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup, the annual international esports tournament for the mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang organized by Moonton.

2023 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup

2023
Tournament information
Game	Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Dates	10–18 June 2023
Administrator	Moonton
Tournament format(s)	Single Round Robin (Group Stage) Single Elimination (Playoffs)
Host(s)	Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Venue(s)	Aeon Mall Mean Chey, Phnom Penh
Teams	12
Purse	$300,000
Final positions
Champions	ONIC (2nd Title)
1st runners-up	Blacklist International
2nd runners-up	ECHO Philippines
← 2022 2024 →

MSC 2023 oversaw an increase of team representation from different regions of the World including North America, Turkey and MENA.^[1] The qualification for MSC 2023 happened during the spring-split of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) seasons, Moonton approved Regional tournaments and qualifier tournaments before the main tournament. MLBB powerhouses of the Philippines^[2][3] and Indonesia^[4][5] qualified its champion and first runner-up teams, while the remaining regions qualified the champions of their respective region.^[6] However, with the lack of compliance as per the MLBB Rulebook for MSC 2023, North American Champions of NACT 2023 Spring BloodThirstyKings were disqualified from the tournament. In replacement, first runner up team Outplay will be representing the region.

The hashtag "#SEATheWorld" was used as the official hashtag during the eight-day tournament.^[7]

Blacklist International and ONIC would once again face in a grand finals matchup. The most recent matchup in the grand finals for both teams was during MPLI 2021 where ONIC defeated Blacklist in four games.^[8] After being withheld of an international title since 2019,^[9] Indonesia won its first international title^[10] with ONIC winning their second MSC title. They defeated Blacklist International in six games,^[11] ending the dominance of the Philippines over the discipline temporarily.

Background

On 14 March 2023, Moonton announced their partnership with the Esports Federation of Cambodia (EFC) to "co-promote the growth of the local esports industry and enhance the competitive gaming landscape of the country." Hence, declaring Cambodia to be the host for MSC 2023.^[12] The announcement of Cambodia's hosting for MSC 2023 was also announced during the MLBB M4 World Championship.^[13]

Tournament format

Group stage

The Group Draw results were announced in Social Media via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter of Mobile Legends Esports.^[14][15] Among the twelve participating teams, every group will be drawn a designated champion from the regions of the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar, and the remaining teams will be drawn evenly. Each group will undergo a single round-robin tournament with matches being a best-of-three format.^[16]

The top two teams of each group will advance to a bracket draw for the playoffs and the third-seeded team of each group will be eliminated.^[17]

Knockout Stage

Unlike the previous iteration of the tournament, MSC 2023 will have a single-elimination bracket with games, and Knockout Stage matches will be best-of-five formats. ^[18] Teams that lost in the Semifinals will proceed to the third-place match.^[19] The Grand Final is scheduled for 18 June 2023 with a best-of-seven series.

Participating teams

MSC 2023 expanded its regional qualifications, qualifying teams from Turkey, North America, and MENA in the process.

Region	League	Qualification Method	Team	Group
The Philippines	MPL Philippines	MPL Philippines Season 11 Champion	ECHO Philippines	A
		MPL Philippines Season 11 First Runner-Up	Blacklist International	D
Indonesia	MPL Indonesia	MPL Indonesia Season 11 Champion	ONIC Esports	C
		MPL Indonesia Season 11 First Runner-Up	EVOS Legends	B
Malaysia	MPL Malaysia	MPL Malaysia Season 11 Champion	TODAK	D
Myanmar	MSC 2023: Myanmar Qualifier	MSC 2023: Myanmar Qualifier Champion	Fenix Esports	B
Singapore	MPL Singapore	MPL Singapore Season 5 Champion	RSG Slate Singapore	B
Cambodia	MPL Cambodia	MPL Cambodia Spring 2023 Champion	BURN X FLASH	C
Mekong Region	MSC 2023: Mekong Qualifier	MSC 2023: Mekong Qualifier Champion	Team EVO	A
North America	North America Challenger Tournament	North America Challenger Tournament Spring 2023 Champion	BloodThirstyKings	Disqualified
		North America Challenger Tournament Spring 2023 First Runner-Up	Outplay	C
Turkey	MLBB Türkiye Championship	MLBB Türkiye Championship Season 1 Champion	Fire Flux Impunity	A
Middle East and North Africa	MPL MENA	MPL MENA Spring 2023 Champion	Team Occupy	D

Group draw results

Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
ECHO Philippines	Fenix Esports	ONIC Esports	TODAK
Fire Flux Impunity	RSG Slate Singapore	Outplay	Blacklist International
Team EVO	EVOS Legends	BURN X FLASH	Team Occupy

Group stage

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ECHO	FIMP	EVO
1	ECHO Philippines	2	2	0	4	1	+3	2	Qualified for the Knockout Stage		—	2–1	2–0
2	Fire Flux Impunity	2	1	1	3	2	+1	1			1–2	—	2–0
3	Team EVO	2	0	2	0	4	−4	0	Eliminated		0–2	0–2	—

Updated to match(es) played on 17 June 2023. Source: https://msc.mobilelegends.com/standing?type=group-stage

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		RSG	EVOS	FNX
1	RSG Slate Singapore	2	2	0	4	0	+4	2	Qualified for the Knockout Stage		—	2–0	2–0
2	EVOS Legends	2	1	1	2	3	−1	1			0–2	—	2–0
3	Fenix Esports	2	0	2	1	4	−3	0	Eliminated		0–2	1–2	—

Updated to match(es) played on 17 June 2023. Source: https://msc.mobilelegends.com/standing?type=group-stage

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		ONIC	BXF	OP
1	ONIC Esports	2	2	0	4	0	+4	2	Qualified for the Knockout Stage		—	2–0	2–0
2	BURN X FLASH	2	1	1	2	2	0	1			0–2	—	2–0
3	Outplay	2	0	2	0	4	−4	0	Eliminated		0–2	0–2	—

Updated to match(es) played on 17 June 2023. Source: https://msc.mobilelegends.com/standing?type=group-stage

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		BLCK	TDK	OPY
1	Blacklist International	2	2	0	4	1	+3	2	Qualified for the Knockout Stage		—	2–1	2–0
2	TODAK	2	1	1	3	2	+1	1			1–2	—	2–0
3	Team Occupy	2	0	2	0	4	−4	0	Eliminated		0–2	0–2	—

Updated to match(es) played on 17 June 2023. Source: https://msc.mobilelegends.com/standing?type=group-stage

Playoffs

All matches are a best-of-five series, except for the Grand Final, which is a best-of-seven series.

	Quarterfinals (Bo5)				Semifinals (Bo5)				Grand Final (Bo7)
	RSG Slate Singapore	0
	BURN X FLASH	3
					BURN X FLASH	1
					Blacklist International	3
	Blacklist International	3
	Fire Flux Impunity	0
									Blacklist International	2
									ONIC	4
	ECHO Philippines	3
	TODAK	1
					ECHO Philippines	0			Third Place Match (Bo5)
					ONIC	3
	ONIC	3							BURN X FLASH	2
	EVOS Legends	0							ECHO Philippines	3

See also

• MPL Philippines Season 11
• MPL Indonesia
• MPL Philippines
• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup