The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Singapore Season 6 Qualifiers concluded over the weekend, with Alchemy SG and Vanguard Esports having advanced to the Regular Season. They will now do battle against six professional teams from last season when Singapore's only standalone professional esports league commences in September.
The full list of qualifying teams for the Regular Season are:
- Alchemy SG
- Bleed Esports
- Evil
- Homebois SG
- RSG SG
- Stellark SG
- Team Flash SG
- Vanguard Esports
Shots fired from newcomers
In the post-Qualifier interviews, Alchemy SG and Vanguard Esports expressed their delight in advancing to the Regular Season. They also issued stern warnings to their competitition.
Alchemy SG will be looking to take revenge after their MPL SG debut in Season 5 ended in relegation following their failure to make the Top 6 in last season's Playoffs.
Alchemy SG said: "Feeling super great coming back to the pro scene. Since you knocked us out last season, Stellark, we are coming for you."
For Vanguard SG, who is composed of players who've played for MPL SG teams in past seasons, the Regular Season will be no happy reunion. The team singled out veteran Bleed Esports' Akihiro "JPL" Furusawa as they'll look to use their knowledge of his playstyle against him.
Vanguard SG said: "Qualifying is just the first step to BLEED you out, old man JPL."
Regular Season Format & Schedule
The Regular Season will see eight teams lock horns every weekend across four weeks in a Best of Three (BO3) round robin format. Teams will complete in an offline professional tournament setup and will be awarded points based on whether they win or lose.
- Week 1: September 9 - 10
- Week 2: September 16 - 17
- Week 3: September 23 - 24
- Week 4: September 30
Qualifiers Recap: Three Things We Learned
1. Blue Mustang's Twin Power Not Quite Enough
Blue Mustang was one of the strong favourites going into the Qualifiers. Their line-up boasted the formidable twin brothers, Minn and Mann, from Team HAQ, a renowned MPL Malaysia team. The brothers' skills and synergy, combined with that of their three other Singaporean teammates, made the team a force to be reckoned with. However, Blue Mustang was ultimately outplayed by eventual qualifying teams Alchemy SG and Vanguard Esports.
2. Vanguard Esports' Mixed Strength
Before the Qualifiers, Vanguard Esports was a name never before seen in MPL Singapore. However, a closer inspection of the team roster would reveal a line-up fans of MPL Singapore would be very familiar with; Vanguard Esports comprised members from various powerhouse teams like Bleed, Revival, and Zion. This assembly of veteran talents from past MPL SG seasons brought a unique dynamic to their gameplay which allowed them, in a surprising turn of events, to upset the heavily favored Blue Mustang during the Winner Bracket Finals. This closely contested match sent Blue Mustang to the Lower Bracket, where they faced Alchemy SG.
3. Alchemy SG: The Avengers
This was Alchemy SG's second showing at MPL Singapore after they made their debut in Season 5. Season 6 has barely begun, but they're already developing a fearsome reputation as being their own avengers, having repeatedly come back stronger after each setback. Last season, Alchemy SG might have been relegated in the Playoffs, but they've since returned in Season 6 with a vengeance, having charted a path of destruction en route to achieving qualification to the Regular Season. Alchemy SG also earned their qualification by seeking revenge on a transgressor, having avenged their initial loss to Blue Mustang during the second round of the Winner Bracket by triumphing over the same team in the Lower Bracket Finals.
MPL Singapore is the only standalone professional esports league in Singapore. Jointly organised by MOONTON Games and Zenway Productions, Season 6 of MPL Singapore will see the nation's top teams compete for a prize pool of SG$100,000 and the right to represent the nation at bigger international tournaments. This will include the M5 World Championship taking place from November in the Philippines, where teams will battle fiercely for a slice of the US$900,000 (SG$1,200,000) pot.
