VICTORY is in sight for Blacklist International with players Johnmar Villaluna (OhMyV33nus), Danerie James Del Rosario (Wise), Kiel Calvin Q. Soriano (OHEB), Edward Jay Dapadap (Edward), Salic Alauya Imam (Hadji), Dexstar Louise Cruz Alaba (Dex Star), and Mark Jayson Gerardo (ESON), along with 16 teams that showed their skills in Moonton’s 2021 M3 World Championship held last Dec. 6 to 19 wherein teams coming from eight regions competed to be the next champion of MLBB (Mobile Legends Bang Bang) and get the prize pool of $800,000 (PHP 41,058,760). The 16 teams who competed for the M3 World Championship that won from their respective regional events are as follows: 

Divide and Conquer

During the Group Stage, 16 teams are divided into  four groups, consisting of four teams where they will have a Single Round Robin Match against each other, which is a one versus all with a one-match to determine the top two teams per group who will advance to the Playoffs Upper Bracket, and the bottom two teams per group that will advance to the Playoffs Lower Bracket. 

The teams were divided into groups A to D. From the Group A’s duels, BEDEL and Blacklist International were the first ones to move to the Playoffs Upper Bracket while RED Candis and Malvinas Gaming proceeded to the Playoffs Lower Bracket. As for the Group B, ONIC Philippines and TODAK secured their spots to the Playoffs Upper Bracket, while Keyd Stars, and ONIC Esports failed to make the cut, making them settle for the Playoffs Lower Bracket. EVOS SG dominated the Group C with a 3-0 win against BloodThirstyKings, Natus Vincere, and See You Soon, moving onto the Playoffs Upper Bracket alongside BloodThristyKings. Natus Vincere and See You Soon fell short, placing themselves on the Playoffs Lower Bracket. In a similar situation, RRQ Hoshi dominated the last group, along with RSG Singapore. On the other hand, Team SMG and GX Squad will play in the lower bracket.

Battle Begins

During the Upper Bracket Qualifiers, the Blacklist International experienced defeat to BloodThristKings with a 2-3 score; EVOS DG’s win against BEDEL with 3-1; ONIC Philippines won against RSG SG with 3-0; and RRQ Hoshi’s win against TODAK with 3-1 as well.

Proceeding to the Upper Bracket Semi-Finals, BloodThristKings showcased a win against EVOS SG with a 3-1 score; ONIC Philippines’s won against RRQ Hoshi with 3-0. 

Moving to the Upper Bracket Final, ONIC Philippines defeated BloodThrist Kings with a 3-0 score, securing their slot at the Grand Finals.

The Fight Continues

Teams in the lower bracket went through a process of elimination to reach the finals. The Lower Bracket Finals consisted of the winning team from the Lower Bracket Semi-Final, battling against the losing team from the Upper Bracket Finals.

Blacklist International on Top

Two teams from the Philippines went head-to-head in the Grand Finals with a best of seven series. ONIC Philippines, who had a clean run blazing through their Upper Bracket matches remains undefeated. Meanwhile, Blacklist International fell from the Upper Bracket, but fought their way through the Lower Bracket with only two losses. 

After a 0-4 victory, ONIC Philippines won 2nd place, taking with them $120,000 (PHP 6,158,814). Blacklist International has risen to the top and hailed as 2021 M3 World Champions, winning $300,000 (PHP15,397,035) and the honor to select a hero to dawn a unique skin (hero Estes was selected and approved, through the help of the MLBB Community).