Malaysia’s rising generation of esports athletes will embark on their professional journey on Monday, March 18th, as the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Academy League Malaysia (MAL MY) launches its inaugural season. This new development league represents a major investment in Malaysia’s esports talent pipeline, offering a structured and competitive platform for aspiring players to reach the top.
Powered by MOONTON Games, IO Esports, and supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) and Esports Integrated (ESI), MAL MY creates a more accessible pathway to professional play. Teams will compete for promotion to the prestigious Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League Malaysia.
Talent drive and inclusivity
MAL MY is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive esports landscape. Thus, the initiative season features notable Malaysian athletes like Ahmad “Syakz” Syakirin, a silver medalist at the 12th ASEAN Para Games, and Sharifah Alia “Aria” Husni Binti Syed Fakrrurozi of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia X Aero, a pioneer of female professional MLBB who won bronze at the 32nd SEA Games MLBB Women’s event.
Fikri Rizal Mahruddin, the head of marketing and business development at Moonton Games, anticipates that MAL MY will emerge as a prime platform for scouting young talents from grassroots esports and grooming them into future stars. He underscores the importance of fostering a more diverse and inclusive esports environment moving forward.
“The inaugural season of MAL MY might still be in the pre-season, but we’re already noting positive developments in the MLBB esports grassroots scene. We’re seeing promising young talent enter the professional circuit, and not just from the Klang Valley area which is home to the MPL Malaysia Arena, but also from states as far away as Sarawak, Penang, and Kelantan. We’re also seeing more diversity in our rosters, with more female athletes and persons with disabilities set to pursue their esports aspirations on the competitive MAL MY stage this season. These bode extremely well for the development of national esports as a whole, especially as we look to defend our honor at the M6 World Championship in Malaysia at the end of the year.” he said.
The Season 1 Regular Season runs from March 18 to May 9, with playoffs from May 24 to 26. The league features a Challengers Conference, comprising teams from a combination of third-party grassroots tournaments, and an Affiliated Conference, totaling 15 teams vying for a USD 20,000 prize pool.
