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| (Image Source: Sportskeeda/Moonton Games) |
Philippine eSports is shaping up to be a force to reckon with across the globe. With the local gaming market growing rapidly, Filipino eSports athletes have started to gain recognition in the international gaming scene, achieving winning streaks in some of the most prestigious tournaments worldwide. Standing at the forefront of this global success is the OPPO-sponsored esports team Blacklist International, the champion of the recently-concluded third installment of the Mobile Legends Bang Bang World Championship (M3 World Championship) held last December 6-19, 2021 in Singapore.
Blacklist International (BLI) is the back-to-back defending champion of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) in the Philippines. Securing Season 7 and 8 titles in 2021, they are the second team in MPL Philippines’ history to win two consecutive times. Earlier this month, the team reached a new milestone when they placed second at the MPL Invitational, wherein 20 of the top MPL teams across Southeast Asia were invited to battle out for a US$100K prize pool. “Blacklist International has always aimed at taking Philippine eSports to unimaginable heights on a global scale. We extend our utmost gratitude to everyone who has shown their support, especially OPPO, who have seen the great potential of the BLI members to continue the battle. OPPO’s entry into the eSports league has greatly helped professional players like us to dream bigger and fight harder,” said Bon Chan, Coach of Blacklist International.
There is no doubt that BLI players have started to make a name for themselves on the international stage. Starting out as a grassroots program, their recent success has further solidified the Philippines’ position as a leader in cultivating esports talents and champions globally, thereby empowering gaming enthusiasts to pursue eSports as a legitimate career path. “OPPO is here to support the Filipino young talents in esports to achieve their fullest potential, our partnership with Blacklist International is just a portion of what the Company is doing to cultivate the skills of the Filipino gamers to be world-class eSports talents. With OPPO’s smartphone technology, nothing is impossible for these dreamers,” shares OPPO Philippines Marketing Director Ele Yu. On the other hand, Mineski Philippines Country Manager Mark Navarro said, “Mineski Philippines congratulates Blacklist International as they have already made tons of Filipinos proud by representing the country in a global gaming community. Their appearance alone is a resounding testament to the Philippines’ position as a serious eSports contender. We are humbled and proud to be working with brands like OPPO who have been investing in esports and enhancing the mobile gaming experience of users."
After prowling and barreling towards Indonesian representatives throughout the course of the lower bracket and avenged their loss to the American team BTK in the Lower Bracket Finals, Blacklist International cemented its resilient dominance in M3 when it swept Onic Philippines, 4-0, in the all-Filipino best-of-seven series Grand Finals which was a first in the two-year history of the MLBB World Championship. This is also the Philippines' second consecutive MLBB World Championship trophy after Bren eSports won the previous installment earlier this year which strengthens the country's position as a potential global eSports powerhouse. Blacklist International are proud users of the new OPPO Reno6 Series that includes a special Game Focus Mode that lets users temporarily tune out interruptions so that they can enjoy a full immersive gaming experience. The #OPPOReno6 5G (Php26,999) and #OPPOReno6 Z 5G (Php19,999) are now available at Shopee, Lazada or any OPPO retail brand store.
