Selangor erupted in electric jubilation last weekend as MPL Malaysia Season 13 culminated in a grand finale which saw the hometown heroes Selangor Red Giants etched their names in history, securing their maiden major title in the MLBB competitive scene. And this season wasn’t just a triumph for The Reds – it was a watershed moment for Malaysian esports who shattered viewership records.
SRG’s journey was a masterclass in dominance. They went undefeated in the group stage and steamrolled their way to the finals. In the playoffs, they vanquished formidable foes like King Empire and RSG Malaysia. In the grand finale, they faced the reigning champions, HomeBois.
The stats tell the story: through the regular season and playoffs, SRG racked up an impressive 28 wins with just 3 losses—three of which were against King Empire and HomeBois. This remarkable achievement is even more noteworthy considering SRG had never before reached the grand finale in the MPL Malaysia competition.
The grand finale itself was a crown jewel. HomeBois, the fan favorites, pushed SRG to the limit. Esports Charts recently revealed that MPL Malaysia S13 broadcasts amassed a peak viewership of over 631,000 – nearly 14% increase from the prior season. Remarkably, five of their matches ranked among the season’s top five most-watched encounters.
This viewership explosion can be attributed to several factors. Many have pointed out that Indonesian broadcasts played a significant role, especially with Tik Tok streams becoming more popular these days – nearly rivaled YouTube in total watch time. Interestingly, this aligns with the influx of Indonesian imports in Season 13, with HomeBois’ mid laner, Muhammad “Udil” Ardiansyah, stands out.
A former in-game leader for Alter Ego, Udil boasts a massive Indonesian fanbase. His signature trash talks, and electrifying commentary turned his interviews into the season’s most shared social media content, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.
As the league’s audience continues its meteoric rise, MPL Malaysia has solidified its position as the third most popular MLBB league globally, trailing only the giants of Indonesia and the Philippines.
