Join us as we talk with ESL FACEIT Group's Simon Eicher and Som Nuchapa Trivijitsilp about the Snapdragon Pro Series' recent standout Mobile Challenge Finals event in Malaysia, and how Mobile Legends: Bang Bang esports continues to thrive in the Asia-Pacific region.
Earlier this year, between August 2 – 4, Malaysia played host to the pinnacle stage of Season 5's proceedings for the Snapdragon Pro Series Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) competitive cycle, the Mobile Challenge Finals. The in-person event saw 12 of the best teams from the Asia-Pacific region converge in Kuala Lumpur for an all-out clash to determine the season's ultimate champion.
Now, MLBB esports in the region is extremely vibrant, with previous Snapdragon Pro Series events organized by ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) and other regional tournaments garnering massive in-person turnouts and online audiences. As a testament to the competitive scene's growing popularity, the recent Mobile Challenge Finals surpassed all expectations beyond these metrics and marked itself as a standout occasion in 2024.
To get an idea of what contributed to the event's massive success, we interviewed EFG's Simon Eicher, Director Game Ecosystems Mobile, and Som Nuchapa Trivijitsilp, Senior Product Manager Mobile APJ.
MobileMatters: I had seen first-hand how massive the recent Snapdragon Mobile Challenge Finals for MLBB in Kuala Lumpur was. Over 65,000 people had attended the event and the excitement was palpable. How much did this turnout exceed your expectations?
SIMON: Malaysian fans are one of the most enthusiastic mobile esports audiences. We expected a strong turnout, but we didn't expect over 65,000 people to attend throughout the tournament. This exceeded every expectation and served as a firm reminder of how much local fans crave opportunities to watch premier mobile esports events with each other.
MobileMatters: On that note, what key factors contributed to the event's overwhelming success?
SOM: Much credit is due to the popularity of MLBB, especially amongst local fans. They were excited for us to bring an international level tournament to Malaysia and wanted to witness and support their favorite team – and this event gave them an outlet to cheer them on in person. Moreover, we have huge support from MOONTON to promote our event to Malaysian fans.
We also had a spectacular lineup of talented teams representing some of the region’s most impactful players. Between the high caliber of competition and support from MOONTON to promote the event amongst Malaysian fans, we saw tens of thousands of attendees watch live.
MobileMatters: Can you share any standout numbers from the event, beyond just the large attendance?
SOM: In-person attendance was just part of the tournament’s massive success. Online, we reached 888,710 concurrent viewers and a total of 11M+ hours watched, making this one of the SPS’s most successful events of all time.
MobileMatters: I had spoken to the team on the ground organizing the tournament and they had mentioned how involved the Malaysian gaming community is in MLBB esports. What role did this community play in making this event as big as it was?
SOM: Without the Malaysian MLBB community, we wouldn’t have seen such a strong turnout in person and online. In addition to marketing from SPS and MOONTON, the community amplified the event and made sure local fans knew how they could watch the action unfold. We also had community heroes from several cities gather fans and organize travel together to the venue. This type of grassroots passion is such an integral part of mobile esports, and it’s so rewarding to see fans appreciating what we do and rallying each other to support it.
MobileMatters: As much of a success the event was, were there any aspects you believe could have been improved on?
SOM: We could not have anticipated the passion and turnout we received with this year’s event. If we were to do it over, we’d commit to a larger venue and more seating so that we could accommodate even more live fans.
MobileMatters: I imagine the intent of ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is to build on the momentum this event has created. What lessons from this event will you apply to future Snapdragon Pro Series tournaments not just in MLBB but in other games as well?
SIMON: This tournament is a firm reminder of the value of leveraging relationships with the local community and teams to help us promote our tournaments. The SPS is a global product, and we strive to be the one who connects fans around the world – and within local communities – to engage with the world’s best mobile esports teams.
MobileMatters: Looking ahead, what can fans expect from the future MLBB events in the Snapdragon Pro Series?
SOM: If this event has taught us anything, it’s that the appetite of APAC fans for premier MLBB esports is larger than ever. Whether it be offering more opportunities for aspiring pros to participate in Open-level competition, or returning with another large-scale tournament featuring the region’s best pros, we want to continue to create exciting new experiences for mobile esports fans.
SIMON: With that in mind, bringing an offline event back to the region is a priority for the SPS. Be sure to follow @ESLMLBB for more updates.
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For more information on the Snapdragon Pro Series, visit the official website, and follow the league on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok.
MobileMatters is in partnership with ESL FACEIT Group, the tournament organizers behind the Snapdragon Pro Series.