Moonton Games, in collaboration with IO Esports, proudly announces the official kick-off of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Academy League Malaysia (MAL MY). Serving as the developmental arm of the Malaysian Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) esports league system, MAL MY is poised to revolutionise the esports landscape in the country by providing a structured and competitive platform for young, talented players to transition into the world of professional esports.

Bridging the Esports Divide

Aimed at bridging the gap between grassroots and national-level esports, MAL MY will unite top third-party community tournaments across Malaysia, inviting their most formidable teams to compete for coveted positions on the MPL Malaysia stage – the nation’s largest MLBB competitive platform. This introduction also brings a promotion and relegation system into play, allowing developmental league teams to vie for qualification to Season 14 of MPL Malaysia, slated for the second half of 2024.

Following the tournament format of MPL Malaysia, MAL MY Season 1 will unfold in three stages: Open Qualifiers in February, the Regular Season in March, and Playoffs in May.

As Moonton Games’ latest endeavour to bolster the esports talent pipeline in rapidly expanding regions, MAL MY marks the publisher’s third development league, following the successful launch of MLBB Development League (MDL) Philippines in 2023 and MDL Indonesia in 2020.

Malaysia’s Esports Ascent

Fikri Rizal Mahruddin, Head of Marketing and Business Development at Moonton Games, highlighted the significance of MAL MY.

“The launch of MAL MY follows the conclusion of the M5 World Championship in the Philippines, where both of Malaysia’s representatives were eliminated in the group stages – the first M Series where a Malaysian team failed to advance to the knockout stages. With Malaysia set to host the M6 World Championship at the end of 2024, our newly established developmental league assumes a pivotal role in preparing our nation’s esports aspirants to defend our honour as the host country and nurture Malaysia’s world champions. MAL MY will provide young players with more systematic support, a more competitive atmosphere, and, most importantly, a clearer trajectory to professionalism.”

Rachael Teh, Head of Operations at IO Esports, shared her excitement about the collaboration with Moonton.

“We take pride in our longstanding partnership with Moonton, which has been instrumental in our esports journey. Our objective is to strengthen our collaboration with Moonton and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to nurturing the growth of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports scene in Malaysia. The launch of MAL MY signifies a crucial milestone in our mission to cultivate young talents and provide them with a gateway into the esports ecosystem. We are wholeheartedly committed to working closely with Moonton to ensure the success of this initiative. Together, our focus is on making MAL MY a resounding success, creating an environment that not only supports emerging talent but also provides a clearer path to professionalism and fosters the development of upcoming champions from Malaysia who will excel and make a mark on the international MLBB Esports stage.”

In conclusion, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Academy League Malaysia emerges as a beacon of hope for aspiring esports talents in Malaysia, promising a competitive landscape and a structured path to professionalism. As the esports community eagerly awaits the kick-off of MAL MY Season 1, all eyes are on the collaboration between Moonton Games and IO Esports, anticipating the development of a new generation of esports champions in Malaysia.