KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's eSports fans are in for a treat as the world's top gamers will compete in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) World Championships in late November.
The M6 World Championships will take place at the Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil, although the exact dates have yet to be confirmed.
Malaysia previously hosted the M1 edition in 2019, and the country's strong support from the government, private sector, and local community was key to securing the return of the event.
Speaking to Timesport, Fikri Rizal Mahruddin, the head of marketing and business development of MOONTON Games, said Malaysia has always been a priority for expanding MLBB's popularity.
MOONTON Games is the developer and publisher of MLBB.
"For the last five years, there has been significant growth for MLBB eSports in Malaysia due to excellent stakeholder support," said Fikri.
"After organising the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup here in 2022 and the wildcard stage for last year's M5, we felt confident in bringing this high-intensity and professional experience to Malaysia."
The M6 will kick off in November with the wildcard and group stages at a yet-to-be-announced venue.
The tournament will then culminate at the Axiata Arena, where the knockout stages and grand finals will take place.
"Everything is going well so far, but organising a large-scale event is no simple matter.
"We are prepared to face any challenges and will strive to make this a success for the community," Fikri added.
"We can't promise a perfect event, but we pledge to deliver the best we can for Malaysia's eSports community."
Fikri also hopes that the Malaysian government will collaborate with MOONTON to ensure the event's success and boost the country's eSports scene.
"In terms of support, it's not so much about financial assistance.
"We want the government to stand with us to help organise this for the betterment of the country's eSports ecosystem."
Expectations are high for the Selangor Red Giants (SRG), who made history by winning the Mid Season Cup, part of the eSports World Cup, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in July.
They took home a staggering US$1 million (RM4.1 million) and are considered favourites to win M6.