MLBB’s M7 World Championship breaks viewership milestones and records

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), commonly known as Mobile Legends (ML), continues to solidify its position as one of the most dominant titles in the global esports landscape. Since its release in 2016, the game has surpassed the remarkable milestone of more than one billion downloads worldwide—a testament to its widespread appeal and sustained popularity, particularly in mobile-first markets.

MLBB’s growth shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by the record-breaking viewership numbers posted during this year’s M7 World Championship. The tournament eclipsed last year’s peak figures, underlining the game’s expanding global footprint. One of the standout moments of the event came during the first-round knockout match between Indonesian powerhouses ONIC Esports and Alter Ego, which reportedly drew an astounding 4.2 million viewers—a new benchmark for the tournament.

The M-Series World Championship, MLBB’s premier international competition, first debuted in 2019 and has grown exponentially with each edition. The inaugural M1 World Championship attracted more than 600,000 peak viewers, a figure that was considered groundbreaking for a mobile esports title at the time and laid the foundation for what would become one of the most-watched esports circuits in the world.

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According to Esports Charts co-founder and CEO Artyom Odintsov, M1 represented a pivotal moment in the game’s esports evolution.

“The M1 World Championship in 2019 was that turning point. It was the first MLBB tournament to reach truly competitive viewership numbers in esports, with more than 600,000 peak viewers,” Odintsov said, as quoted by Philstar.

Odintsov also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic played a crucial role in accelerating MLBB’s rise, as global audiences increasingly turned to online platforms and digital entertainment during extended lockdowns.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) M7 World Championship Opening di Jakarta menjadi panggung diplomasi budaya Indonesia.

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Turnamen esports berskala internasional ini memperlihatkan kolaborasi antara M7 Series, IP lokal, dan jenama Indonesia… pic.twitter.com/OOzI3u7DHk

— Good News From Indonesia (@GNFI) January 17, 2026

“A significant part of the game’s growth came in 2020 and the years that followed. Before that, MLBB already had large tournaments in Southeast Asia. However, the real audience boom happened during the pandemic, when people stayed at home and consumed much more online content,” he added.

Another major driver behind MLBB’s sustained success has been its strong emphasis on regional leagues, particularly across Southeast Asia. Countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore have become major competitive hubs, producing elite teams, star players, and passionate fan bases. From these regional foundations, MLBB has steadily expanded into new markets, pushing beyond its Southeast Asian roots and building a truly global ecosystem.

“Almost every year, new regions and new teams are added to the ecosystem, which is awesome progress for the title. As the audience grew, competition also emerged. Community streamers started creating alternative esports content, giving viewers more choice in who and how they watch,” Odintsov continued.

The ongoing M-Series World Championship was originally scheduled to take place in December, in line with tradition, but was postponed to January due to scheduling conflicts with major international events such as the Southeast Asian Games and the World Esports Championship.

Despite temporarily taking a backseat to other global competitions, Odintsov remains optimistic about MLBB’s long-term trajectory and believes the title’s best years are still ahead.

“One of the key challenges is attracting casual MLBB players into watching esports competitions. The strategy is simple: grow the game’s audience through marketing, and then gradually convert that audience into esports viewers,” he concluded.

As MLBB continues to evolve, its combination of accessibility, regional investment, and competitive storytelling positions it as a defining force in mobile esports—one that shows no signs of losing momentum on the world stage.

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