Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Women's Invitational (MWI) is set to return at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) as the largest women's tournament at the world's biggest multi-title esports event.
After qualifiers spanning a record-breaking 57 regions, the final 16 teams have secured their spots to compete for the most prestigious title in MLBB women's esports from 15 to 19 July. MWI will return from 15 to 19 July with a twist—the 2025 edition will introduce a revamped format that echoes the competitive intensity of the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC). MWI will also spotlight the world's top teams competing for a USD 500,000 prize pool—one of the largest in women's esports history. As a platform for inclusivity in gaming, MWI leads the charge for female representation at EWC, giving female athletes the opportunity to showcase their #Limitless potential on the global stage.
MWI at EWC 25 will feature a record 16-team lineup—up from 12 teams in the previous edition—alongside a refreshed format that mirrors the intensity of MSC at EWC 25. This new structure highlights the rising competitiveness and professionalisation of MLBB women's esports, positioning MWI as the benchmark for global women's tournaments.
The Group Stage will divide the teams into four groups competing in a Best-of-Three (BO3), double-elimination format. Replacing the previous BO2 format, this new format demands more consistent, decisive wins, pushing strategic depth to new heights in MLBB women's tournaments. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Knockout Stage. The Knockout Stage will adopt a BO3, single-elimination format and introduce a new BO5 third-place match. This additional stage gives teams a final chance to bring pride to their regions with a podium finish. The tournament will culminate in a BO7 Grand Finals to crown the next queens of MLBB women's esports.
The 16 qualified teams will compete 15 to 19 July, following a qualification series that saw teams from 57 regions vie for a coveted spot. For the first time, teams from Africa, Mongolia, and Türkiye will participate in the tournament—underscoring MWI's role in driving global representation in women's esports.
Standouts include Indonesia's Team Vitality, one of the most decorated squads in MLBB women's esports. Two of its stars, Michelle "Chell" Siswanto and Cindy "Cinny" Siswanto, were recently featured in Amazon Prime's Level Up, where they shared their inspiring journey through the highs and lows of the competitive MLBB scene. Natus Vincere PH (formerly Smart Omega Empress) will also return as the reigning MWI 2024 champions, having delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Team Vitality to end their opponent's three-year, 24-match winning streak.
With its returning $500,000 prize pool, MWI at EWC 25 reinforces its role as a driving force in advancing women's esports. The champions will take home the crown and the top prize of USD 150,000, while the remainder will be distributed amongst the other participating teams. This continued investment builds on the previous edition, which made history as the only women's tournament at the inaugural EWC. It was also the first MWI to feature teams from beyond Southeast Asia and became the most-watched edition to date, with over 2.5 million Hours Watched, according to Esports Charts.
Ray Ng, Head of Esports Ecosystem at MOONTON Games, said: "Fostering the charge for women's esports means continuously pushing boundaries. This year, with more participating regions, the addition of new teams, and a new format, MWI at EWC 25 demonstrates how MOONTON Games stays at the forefront of championing women's esports by partnering with the Esports World Cup Foundation. The tournament has become a key pillar of our calendar as we look to empower our female athletes with a pathway to build sustainable esports careers and prove that they belong amongst the world's best. MLBB is setting the pace for women's esports at EWC and beyond!"
MLBB was recognised as the world's most-watched mobile esports title of 2024, while the MLBB Professional League (MPL) became the first esports circuit to surpass 1 billion HW—milestones that cement MLBB as a global esports powerhouse. In 2025, MLBB returns to EWC with both MWI and MSC, bringing the One Game, Two Champions vision to life.
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