From July 8 to August 24, Saudi Arabia will proudly host the international Esports World Cup 2025. This thrilling event will showcase competitions across 24 different esports disciplines over an exciting seven-week period. With a staggering total prize pool that exceeds $70 million, the EWC 2025 promises to deliver an unforgettable experience for fans and competitors alike. One of the main highlights will be the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament, where the very best players will clash on mobile MOBA arenas for a chance to claim a substantial $500,000 cash prize and the prestigious trophy that symbolizes ultimate victory.
Who will compete for the coveted championship title? Which local teams should you keep an eye on as potential contenders? What unique aspects make the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang competition particularly thrilling? We delve into these intriguing questions and more in our in-depth article, giving you insights into the excitement that awaits.
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How did the qualifying competitions go in our region?
The champions of the MCC Season 5 (MLBB Continental Championships), held from April to June this year, have clinched spots for the EWC 2025.
In a predictable turn of events, Team Spirit took first place, having triumphed in the last two MCC seasons. After a dip into the lower bracket, they managed to regroup towards the competition’s finale and outshine all their opponents. Fans joke that this comeback is just another day in the life for the “Dragons.”
Virtus.pro claimed the second spot—an emerging team making their first appearance at the MCC. Their playstyle impressed both fans and analysts alike, as many were skeptical about the “Bears” having enough experience.
Zauregoist (Zaur Magomedov), the jungler for Virtus.pro, showcased an exceptional performance, earning MVP honors for the play-in stage and securing a place among the international leaders in kills during the MCC.
Team Spirit are MCC 2025 champions again – comeback, drama and new stars of the MLBB scene
MCC Season 5 Champions Make It to EWC 2025 — With Drama, Comebacks, and Real Heroes of the Scene
The fifth season of the MLBB Continental Championship, which ran from April to June, has come to an end, and its finale exceeded all expectations. Teams fought for tickets to EWC 2025, and the show was a success. Unexpectedly for many, but logical for experts of the scene, the title once again goes to Team Spirit. These MCC veterans staged a real thriller: after a painful fall to the lower bracket, they not only pulled themselves together, but also rushed forward in their usual manner. For fans, this was déjà vu — the “Dragons” have proven more than once that they can get back on their feet and win where others give up. The joke about “Spirit’s favorite style is to first fall, then beat everyone” has become almost a meme in the community.
Virtus.pro, who debuted at this MCC, were a pleasant surprise – the team that many people called “raw newcomers” reached second place. Their style of play – aggressive, clearly structured and sometimes even daring – quickly won the sympathy of both fans and analysts. Few believed that the “Bears” would be able to compete with the monsters of the scene, but they proved otherwise.
Special attention – Zauregoist (Zaur Magomedov), the jungler of Virtus.pro, who became one of the main discoveries of the tournament. His confident, verified play brought him the MVP of the play-in, and the kill statistics put him in the top world MCC players. For Zauregoist, this was a real breakthrough, and for the entire scene – the emergence of a new contender for the title of star of the year.
Asians are not the only favourites
Team Spirit stands as the premier team in our region, formerly known as Deus Vult. The rebranding took place when the organization signed the full roster in March 2024.
Among the squad, Sunset Lover (Kemiран Кочкаров) and SAWO (Stanislav Reshnyak) are two of the most experienced players globally. They have participated in five Mobile Legends World Championships, missing just one when our region didn’t receive a slot. Last year, Moonton, the owner of MLBB, released a documentary highlighting Sunset Lover and SAWO’s journey on the world stage.
The “Dragons” consistently achieve remarkable results in global competitions:
- 4th place at the M5 World Championship
- 4th place at the M6 World Championship
- 9th-12th place at the Esports World Cup 2024
- 1st place at the MLBB Super Cup Invitational 2025
Their vast international experience renders Team Spirit a daunting opponent, especially for teams outside the Asian scene.
Team Spirit roster
- Mid lane — Sunset Lover (Kemiran Kochkarov)
- Exp lane — Kid Bomba (Mateos Hatzilakos)
- Gold lane — Hiko (Anton Pak)
- Roam — SAWO (Stanislav Reshnyak)
- Jungle — Oneshot (Alexander Sharkov)
The “Dragons” have been playing together reliably for almost a full year now. The last roster change took place a year ago, when they decided to swap out their jungler in July 2024. That was when Oneshot (Alexander Sharkov) joined the team. It felt like a true homecoming, as Alexander had previously played under the tag Deus Vult
Kid Bomba (Mateos Hatzilakos) became a member of Team Spirit in the summer of 2023, bringing a fresh dynamic to the squad. Shortly after, Hiko (Anton Pak) joined the ranks at the start of 2024. Mid-laner Sunset Lover (Kemiran Kochkarov) and roamer SAWO (Stanislav Reshnyak) are recognized as some of the original founding members who helped shape the team’s identity.
One of the key reasons behind the Dragons’ consistent success is the infrequency of roster changes. This stability allows the players to skip the usual adjustment period and focus on honing their teamwork and communication skills, leading to a more cohesive performance in matches.
Interestingly, after Kid Bomba (Mateos Hatzilakos) from Germany joined the team, they made a significant shift by communicating exclusively in English. This change not only helped bridge language gaps but also fostered a more inclusive environment. Now, Mateos speaks Russian fluently and often takes the initiative in calling strategies and assisting with character selections during the draft phase, showcasing his adaptability and commitment to the team’s success. This blend of talent and communication has positioned the “Dragons” as a formidable force in their league, and fans are excited to see how they continue to evolve together.
Who coaches Team Spirit?
In May of this year, Nikita Morozov, widely recognized as Coldstar, stepped into the role of head coach for the “Dragons.” Previously, he had a successful career as a professional League of Legends player. His esports journey began back in 2017 with Gambit Academy, where he focused on honing his skills in League of Legends. Unfortunately, achieving substantial victories in the competitive landscape of Riot Games’ MOBA proved to be a daunting challenge, primarily due to the overwhelming dominance of Asian teams in international tournaments. After some time, Nikita transitioned into a commentator role for League of Legends, which allowed him to build a strong rapport with fans and the gaming community.
Before Nikita took over, Team Spirit was led by Vren Don Consul Posebre from the Philippines. He brought valuable experience from coaching prestigious teams like AP.Bren (Philippines) and RRQ Hoshi (Indonesia), which are known for their impressive track records.
The driving factor behind the coaching change was primarily the language barrier. Vren’s inability to communicate in Russian created challenges both during matches and in team discussions. This issue was highlighted in post-match interviews during MCC Season 5, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in esports.
Who will Team Spirit face in the EWC 2025 group stage?
- Aurora Gaming (Philippines)
- ONIC Philippines (Philippines)
- Team Liquid (Philippines)
- ONIC (Indonesia)
- RRQ Hoshi (Indonesia)
- Selangor Red Giants OG Esports (Malaysia)
- HomeBois (Malaysia)
- CFU Gaming (Cambodia)
- Ultra Legends (MENA)
- Corinthians (LATAM)
- Mythic SEAL (Myanmar)
- Team Flash (Singapore)
- DianFengYaoGuai (China)
- Area77 (North America)
- Wild Card Winner (to be determined on July 13)
At this point, the group stage is still up in the air. Only eight teams will earn a spot in the playoffs.
Here’s something unexpected:
North America was originally going to be represented by S8UL Esports (formerly BTK). But just recently, the roster got disqualified after two players—Hoon and MobaZane—were found to have broken MSC x EWC 2025 rules. Turns out, they had earlier played in an Honor of Kings tournament—MLBB’s direct competitor.
Is there a good chance for Team Spirit to make it to the playoffs?
Team Spirit, nicknamed the “Dragons,” aren’t strangers to the global stage. They’ve gone head-to-head with elite teams from different regions and come out on top more than once. At past M-Series championships, they defeated powerhouse squads like HomeBois (Malaysia), Fire Flux Esports (Turkey), See You Soon (Cambodia), and Falcon Esports (Saudi Arabia).
Their secret weapon? A strong coaching duo from the Philippines—Vrendon Consul Posebre (Vren) and Kenneth Coloma (FlySolo). These two helped the team dive deep into the Asian meta and dissect how the region’s top teams think and play.
Funny enough, hero pairings and item builds don’t vary wildly from place to place. China is the outlier, with fewer popular heroes and older patch versions. Generally, CIS teams absorb Asian trends—but always slightly behind. That’s natural; it takes time for coaches and analysts to study opponents and fine-tune strategies.
With recent changes to MLBB, the jungle meta shifted: tanks lost their crown, and assassins took over. This plays perfectly into Team Spirit’s hands. Their jungler, Oneshot (Alexander Sharkov), shines on quick, high-damage heroes. With only five bans, you simply can’t take away all his comfort picks. Just before EWC 2025, a new mage named Zetian entered the global pool—until now, she was exclusive to the Chinese version. Teams had only a month to develop synergies and test strategies. The Dragons, though, were already ahead. At the MLBB Super Cup Invitational 2025, they drafted her—and didn’t drop a single game where she appeared.
All signs point to a strong playoff run. Spirit already beat a few potential group-stage rivals: HomeBois (Malaysia), CFU Gaming (Cambodia), and DianFengYaoGuai (China). With momentum on their side, they just might do it again. That said, their real challenge is elsewhere. The Dragons will need to face some of the fiercest names from Indonesia (ONIC, RRQ Hoshi), the Philippines (Team Liquid, ONIC PH), and Malaysia (Selangor Red Giants OG). These are the same teams that gave them a hard time before. They lost 0:1 to RRQ Hoshi and 0:3 to Selangor Red Giants.
On July 1, Sunset Lover (Kemiran Kochkarov) announced via Telegram that the full squad had arrived in Malaysia. It’s tradition now—before every big international, Team Spirit sets up an Asian bootcamp. That’s where they train with the world’s finest and get tournament-ready.
Virtus.pro entered MLBB with noise and ambition
We won’t be cheering only for Team Spirit this time. Another squad is stepping up to represent the home scene — Virtus.pro. But first, they’ll have to battle through the Wild Card qualifiers. Let’s dive into who’s on this young roster and whether the “Bears” really stand a chance of making the playoffs.
Back in February, the storied esports brand Virtus.pro announced their entry into the MLBB scene by signing a men’s roster. They picked up five players from the former Teiko squad — BadKot (Denis Bogomolov), Superegorka (Egor Bugayev), Bober (Dmitry Belyaev), Zauregoist (Zaur Magomedov), and Saba (Alexander Orlov).
Not long after, the roam position was taken over by Pluto (Vladimir Misyurin), previously with FORZE. The team’s coach, Kenneth “FlySolo” Coloma, brings serious expertise to the table — he once led Deus Vult, the top team in our region.
Over the last five months, Virtus.pro has transformed completely — from regional outsiders to true contenders. They’ve taken down several seasoned opponents and proven their growth. Their breakout moment came in the MCC Season 5 grand final, where they pushed Team Spirit to the edge. Though the match ended 3:2 for the “Dragons,” the “Bears” held their own and even controlled two of the games.
- At the Wild Card stage, the lineup looks like this:
- Mid lane – Bober (Dmitry Belyaev)
- Exp lane – BadKot (Denis Bogomolov)
- Gold lane – Superegorka (Egor Bugayev)
- Roam – Pluto (Vladimir Misyurin)
- Jungle – Andoryuuu (Andrew Lew Flora)
With hunger in their eyes and momentum on their side, Virtus.pro is stepping into the spotlight — and they’re not just here to participate. They’re here to compete.
Virtus.pro surged to the finish line – will this spurt be victorious?
July 10 marks a big moment for Virtus.pro — their first-ever match on the international stage, and it won’t be an easy one. Right out of the gate, the “Bears” are going up against Niightmare Esports from Laos. There’s no denying that debut jitters might affect their rhythm, but this young squad has something that could catch everyone off guard. Their drafts, team combos, and strategies? No one’s seen them in action yet. Add in a surprise roster change, and VP suddenly becomes a complete wildcard.
Their original jungler, Zauregoist (Zaur Magomedov), won’t be playing after all — age restrictions benched him just before the tournament. Instead of sitting it out, he’s stepped up as the team’s analyst. Filling in his role is Andoryuuu (Andrew Lew Flora), a rising star brought in on loan from the Filipino team Omega Esports.
Andoryuuu’s no stranger to the spotlight. In MPL Philippines Season 14, he took MVP of the week — twice. It’s a huge pickup for VP, but there’s work to be done. Chemistry doesn’t build overnight, and communication will be their biggest test. With different languages in the mix, the question is: how quickly can they align in fast-paced, high-stakes matches?
Luckily, they’ve got Flysolo (Kenneth Coloma) steering the ship. In under six months, he transformed VP into a regional top-2 contender — something that usually takes years. His experience might be the glue that holds this lineup together.
Coach Ola believes in their chances: “Virtus.pro can absolutely take the Wildcard. Only Legion Esports might put up a real fight — the rest should be manageable. With enough scrims in Asia, they’ll be ready.”
The squad’s already bootcamping in the Philippines, getting in sync with their new jungler and prepping for their first big test.
Virtus.pro got lucky with the group
Eight teams have punched their tickets to the Wild Card stage after finishing second in their regional qualifiers. Among them are some familiar names—and Virtus.pro, the “bears,” will have their work cut out for them against this global mix:
- Team Falcons (Saudi Arabia)
- Legion Esports (Vietnam)
- Rare Atom (China)
- The MongolZ (Mongolia)
- Zeta Division (Japan)
- Niightmare Esports (Laos)
- INFLUENCE RAGE (Brazil)
- Virtus.pro finds itself in Group B, where they’ll be facing Zeta Division, Niightmare Esports, and INFLUENCE RAGE.
All things considered, the group draw worked in VP’s favor. The two squads most feared by analysts—Team Falcons and Legion Esports—ended up in the other group. For now, the bears can breathe a little easier.
Their first test comes on July 10, against Niightmare Esports, an aggressive team from Laos. While their playstyle is bold, they haven’t made waves internationally. For VP, the path to victory likely lies in disciplined defense—baiting out mistakes, countering hard, and leaning into a late-game comp that punishes recklessness.
Up next, VP may lock horns with Zeta Division and INFLUENCE RAGE. The Japanese team is making its international debut and, frankly, may not be ready for this level of competition. VP’s seasoned jungler, Andoryuuu (Andrew Lew Flora), is expected to outclass his opponent in both farm and map control.
As for INFLUENCE RAGE, the Brazilians bring more experience to the table, but they’re far from flawless. Misplays crop up under pressure, and if VP can sniff out their weak spots early, they’ll be in prime position to capitalize and secure the win.
In conclusion
Teams from Asia often shine brightly on the international stage, demonstrating their prowess and skill, yet even their extensive experience can sometimes fall short in crucial moments. Take, for instance, the remarkable performance at EWC 2024 last year, where the newcomers, Selangor Red Giants, truly took the spotlight. They didn’t just play; they steamrolled through every renowned squad they encountered, showcasing a level of teamwork and strategy that led them to confidently secure the top spot in the tournament.
This remarkable achievement highlights a significant truth: young and even inexperienced players can dramatically alter the course of a championship. The key to their success lies in their ability to adapt their strategies on the fly, utilize a diverse range of characters effectively, and quickly identify and exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. This adaptability can often make all the difference in high-stakes matches.
As we look ahead, we are filled with anticipation that Team Spirit and Virtus.pro will rise to the occasion, ready to astonish their rivals with exceptional gameplay. Don’t miss out on the excitement of the opening match— the “Bears” will be going head-to-head against Niightmare Esports on July 10, starting at around 6 PM MSK. Be sure to check the official Telegram channel for Esports | Mobile Legends: Bang Bang for a link to the live stream. Let’s come together and cheer on our local teams as they aim for victory!
