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| (Image Source: MOONTON Games China) |
The 2024 MLBB CN (Mobile Legends: Bang Bang China) Pre-Season Invitational is officially underway and will run until March 31, 2024. The competition is divided into two stages with Stage 1 featuring eight teams comprising of JDG, KBG, LL, MYG, NOVA, XYG, MXG, and MAX. After completing the two stages, the top-ranked teams will advance to the eSports World Cup (EWC) China Qualification Tournament which is in conjunction with the Mid-Season Cup (MSC).
With the official entry of the MLBB CN in China, MOONTON Games China Head Mike Chu stated, “We hope to create a stable competition system for domestic clubs quickly, establish competitive training opportunities for professional players, and bring the highest level of competition content for players who are looking forward to the launch and testing of MLBB CN in the short term. We will strive to provide professional opportunities to grassroots and professional Chinese players, showcasing the growth, strength, and potential of Chinese eSports to an audience of over one billion global players; we will also bring a new mobile MOBA track to eSports clubs and partners, working side by side with teams leading more than over 50 countries and regions to help our domestic partners establish greater globalisation opportunities.” In regards to the participation by the MLBB CN from major eSports teams, Chu mentioned, “Special thanks goes to all the eSports clubs and players who joined us during the pre-season stage. We look forward to Chinese clubs and players achieving their potential on the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang global stage. We welcome eSports teams and players to consider joining us on MLBB CN.”
NOVA eSports won the championship title for the first-ever tournament held in China which ended last March 3, 2024. As for their participation in the upcoming 2024 MLBB CN Pre-Season Invitational Tournament, NOVA eSports CEO Li Tingting stated, “NOVA Esports has always prioritised the growth and expansion of eSports globally. Joining MLBB CN and learning more about the tournament and local eSports roadmap has made us very optimistic about the path of its global eSports ecosystem. We look forward to participating in the 2024 MLBB CN tournament with a long-term goal in mind to win all related tournaments. Our current goal is to obtain a direct spot in the eSports World Cup (EWC) held in Saudi Arabia, represent China, and compete with many overseas rivals.” In November 2023, KBG represented Team China in the M5 World Championship Wild Card tournament. As the first team to represent Team China to step onto the global stage of the MLBB event, KBG CEO Zhao Yuan said, “In the M5 Wild Card tournament, KBG experienced the intensity of the MLBB global competition and the enthusiastic atmosphere of the event. With the rapid development of Chinese eSports in the MOBA domain, MLBB CN is one of the pioneering leaders. Among many Chinese teams, KBG is honored to join the MLBB global eSports ecosystem as a domestic pioneer, and together promote and witness the launch and development of MLBB CN to exert a healthy and positive social influence.”
The global MLBB eSports ecosystem has accelerated in terms of growth over the last two years. In January 2024, MLBB eSports and the eSports World Cup Foundation jointly announced the MOBA title as the first participating eSports title. Come July, the Mid Season Cup and the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational will kick off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. China was allocated two slots in the MSC Wild Card format and the main group stage event.
