Mobile Legends Achieves Historic Viewership
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) has once again proven its dominance in the global esports arena. The Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has officially become the most-watched tournament in the event's history, recording over 2 million viewers even before the playoffs began.
Record-Breaking Viewer Numbers
According to data from Esports Charts, the MSC reached a peak of 2,010,159 concurrent viewers during the group match between ONIC Esports and Selangor Red Giants (SRG). This impressive figure not only sets a new record but also positions MLBB as the most-watched game in this year’s largest multi-title esports event.
Surprising Outcomes in Group Stage
The high viewer count reflects the unpredictable nature of the competition. Throughout the Group Stage, numerous unexpected results emerged. A significant surprise was the early elimination of Team Liquid Philippines (TLPH), the reigning champions, before they could reach the Knockout Stage. Additionally, SRG, a finalist from the previous MSC, also failed to advance after losing to ONIC, despite being one of the favorites this year.
In contrast, Aurora Gaming from Türkiye emerged as a dark horse, starting their tournament by defeating Team Liquid PH and then overcoming ONIC to top Group B and secure a playoff spot.
The Rise of MLBB in Europe
Aurora Gaming’s success signals a growing strength for MLBB in Europe. This momentum is particularly exciting as the M8 World Championship Finals is set to take place in Türkiye in January 2027, marking the first time the MLBB World Championship finals will be held in Europe.
A Historic Tournament for Mobile Legends
The MSC EWC 2026 not only became the highest-viewed tournament of the Esports World Cup this year but also set a new milestone for Mobile Legends. For the first time, the group stage managed to exceed two million peak concurrent viewers, a record achieved even before the Knockout Stage commenced.
Artyom Odintsov, CEO and Co-founder of Esports Charts, highlighted that this accomplishment underscores the immense appeal of MLBB on the international stage. Notably, for the third consecutive year, matches involving Selangor Red Giants have been among the most-watched in the group stage, indicating SRG's growth into a team with one of the largest fan bases in international MLBB competitions.
As the Group Stage concludes, the top eight teams are now preparing for the Knockout Stage. This phase will feature a single elimination format, with each match being a do-or-die scenario. Teams that advance from the Upper Bracket will have the privilege of selecting their first opponent in the Knockout Stage, based on their game differential during the Group Stage.
Interestingly, all Upper Bracket teams chose to face opponents they had previously defeated in the group stage, demonstrating their confidence in replicating those results in elimination rounds.
The MSC is part of Mobile Legends’ third appearance at the Esports World Cup, under the theme “Two Champions, One Game,” uniting the MSC and the MLBB Women’s Invitational (MWI) in one competitive series. Earlier, the MWI 2026 also set a record as the most-watched edition in its history, with 565,526 peak concurrent viewers, according to Esports Charts.
MLBB’s dominance in the Esports World Cup has been evident since last year. During EWC 2025, the MSC and MWI together amassed over 50.32 million hours watched, accounting for more than a quarter of the total viewing hours across all esports events.
With these achievements, Mobile Legends continues to demonstrate that it is not just one of the largest mobile games globally but also a key driver of growth in the esports industry.
As the public’s attention turns to the Knockout Stage of MSC EWC 2026, the remaining eight teams will vie for the championship title and an opportunity to make history on the global Mobile Legends stage.
Source: https://www.esports.id/read/msc-ewc-2026-pecahkan-rekor-2-juta-penonton-mobile-legends-jadi-turnamen-paling-ditonton-di-ewc-2026-19121
