The stage is all set for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup (MSC) 2019, the region’s most prestigious, elite-level MLBB tournament.

Taking place at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila, Philippines, the June 19-23 tournament will see 12 teams two days of group stages, before the main event on June 21-23.

MSC 2019 marks the first time that the competition will be staged in the Philippines, the second largest market for MLBB in the region next to Indonesia. The past two MSC tournaments were held in Jakarta.

The venue chosen for the event is significant, as well. The SMART Araneta Coliseum, known to local fans as “The Big Dome,” is the main venue for the country’s biggest professional sports league, the Philippine Basketball Association. It was also where the 1975 Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier bout, “Thrilla in Manila” was held.

Live now: MSC 2019 Group draw

Southeast Asia's strongest MLBB teams are gathered here to battle it out to be the best! However, there can be only one MSC 2019 champion! Don't forget to watch the Group Stage draw LIVE on 4th June at 12:45pm (GMT+8) to know which group your favourite team will be in! Join us to witness the birth of legends at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Manila, Philippines from 21-23 June. ???? Get your tickets at www.ticketnet.com.ph. #MSC2019 #WhereLegendsAreBorn #MobileLegendsBangBang #MobileEsports #MLBB #SoutheastAsia

Posted by Mobile Legends: Bang Bang on Monday, June 3, 2019

Team groupings were drawn on June 4 in Manila, resulting in the following clusters:

Group A

  • Geek Fam (Malaysia)
  • Bren ESports (Philippines)
  • IDNS (Thailand)

Group B

  • Evos ESports SG (Singapore)
  • ArkAngel (Philippines)
  • The Overlockers (Vietnam)

Group C

  • Team Resolution (Myanmar)
  • Louvre (Indonesia)
  • Diversity Helheim (Cambodia)

Group D

  • Onic ESports (Indonesia)
  • Burmese Ghouls (Burma)
  • WAWA Gaming (Laos)

At the Group Stage, the teams will play best-of-three matches in a round-robin format. The top-ranked teams per group will advance to the upper brackets of the playoffs during the Main Event. The bottom two teams will battle in the play-in rounds of the Main Event through a single elimination, best-of-three series.

“From sports to esports, we’re excited to bring the very first esports event to the iconic SMART Araneta Coliseum,” said JJ Lin, esports manager for Mobile Legends developer Moonton.

Lin also acknowledged the “great love” that Filipino gamers have shown MLBB since its release in 2016. He also commended the “outstanding” level of esports talent in the Philippines. The first and second placers from last year’s MSC were in fact Filipino teams.

The entire tournament will be streamed live on the official Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Facebook page.

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