The 2022 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship, commonly referred to as the M4 World Championship and M4, was the fourth edition of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship, an esports tournament for the mobile game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.
The annual international tournament was organized by the game developer Moonton, in partnership with several sponsors including the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia. The tournament was held in Jakarta from 1 to 15 January 2023.
Sweeping the defending champions with a 4–0 score, ECHO Philippines defeated Blacklist International in a best-of-seven series to become the fourth World Champions. It marked the second Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championships where two Filipino teams are upper bracket and lower bracket contenders for the said title. It also marked the third consecutive world championship title that a Filipino team has won, beginning in M2.
Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno is the first-ever MLBB player who has won two world championships. He would be joined by his former teammates, Kyle "Phewww" Arcangel and David "FlapTzy" Canon to win two world championships after their victories in the MLBB M5 World Championship, as well as his opponent, Edward "Edward" Dapadap, after winning the recent MLBB M7 World Championship
Background The MLBB M4 World Championships was the fourth edition of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship and the first edition of the games to be held in Indonesia. Previously, Malaysia and Singapore held the first three editions of the games, M1 in Kuala Lumpur and M2 and M3 in Singapore. The tournament was held from 1 to 15 January 2023, surpassing one year of the previous editions of the tournament.
M4 featured sixteen (16) qualified teams from Asia, North America, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Europe and Latin America. Teams qualified through their region's qualification method, whether it will be an MPL Region or a Moonton-approved qualification tournament.
A notable fact is that in every edition of the World Championship, an exclusive battle pass skin and the champion skin will be released. Previously, the Fighter-hero Roger was chosen to be the battle pass skin and the Champions Skin was Estes, picked by Blacklist International. In the current battle pass, the Marksman Hero Beatrix was chosen as the Battle pass skin.
Qualified teams Qualifying for the M4 World Championships comes from the competing nation's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League, commonly known as "MPL." However, regional qualifiers in the North America, Turkey, Myanmar, Mekong (Thailand, Laos, Vietnam), and Latin American regions were also held to broaden the reach of the Championship's teams.
Unlike in the previous MLBB World Championships, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Japan would not participate in the upcoming M4. On the other hand, Mekong and Myanmar will re-join after their absence in the M3 World Championship held in Singapore. The number of qualifiers for Singapore and Brazil has been reduced to one, while the Latin America region will now delegate two teams participating in the world championship.
+QualifiersRegionLeagueQualification methodTeam nameIDGroupPhilippinesMPL PhilippinesMPL Philippines Season 10 Champions Blacklist InternationalBLCKAMPL Philippines Season 10 Runners-Up ECHO PhilippinesECHOCIndonesiaMPL IndonesiaMPL Indonesia Season 10 Champions ONIC EsportsONICBMPL Indonesia Season 10 Runners-Up RRQ HoshiRRQCMalaysiaMPL MalaysiaMPL Malaysia Season 10 Champions Team HAQTHQDMPL Malaysia Season 10 Runners-Up TodakTDKBLatin AmericaSuper League LATAMSuper League LATAM Season 1 Champions S11 Gaming ArgentinaS11DSuper League LATAM Season 1 Runners-Up Malvinas GamingMVGBSingaporeMPL SingaporeMPL Singapore Season 4 Champions RSG SingaporeRSGCCambodiaMPL CambodiaMPL Cambodia Autumn Split 2022 Champions Burn x Team FlashBURNABrazilMPL BrazilMPL Brazil Season 3 Champions RRQ AkiraRRQD Middle East and North AfricaMPL MENAMPL MENA Fall Split 2022 Champions Occupy ThronesOPYCMyanmarM4 Myanmar QualifiersMyanmar Qualifying Team Falcon EsportsFCONAMekongM4 Mekong QualifiersMekong Region Qualifying Team MDH EsportsMDHBTurkeyTürkiye Şampiyonası 2022Turkish Qualifying Team Incendio SupremacyINCANorth AmericaMLBB NACT MLBB NACT Fall Season Champions The ValleyTVD
Venue The M4 World Championship was announced to be held in the capital city of Jakarta, Indonesia.
Previously, the group stages and playoffs will be held at XO Hall and Istora Senayan, but due to unforeseen circumstances and for the safety of fans, both venues were changed accordingly by the M4 organizers.
Group stages for the tournament will now be held at the Bali United Studio, Jakarta Indonesia. In addition, the knockout stages will be hosted at the Tennis Indoor Senayan. The selling of tickets for the event started on October 19.
Marketing During the build-up to the M4 World Championships, the MLBB official YouTube channel, alongside MPL Region YouTube channels such as the Philippines and Indonesia, has released several promotional and publicity videos to promote the upcoming world championships.
In the Philippines, the theme song "PINAS LANG MALAKAS", was released and was sung by KZ Tandingan, featuring Nik Makino. The song included the four prominent members of both qualifying teams of the Philippines, Danerie "Wise." Del Rosario and Jonmar "OhMyV33Nus" Villaluna of Blacklist International, and Karl Gabriel "KarlTzy" Nepomuceno and Tristan "YAWI" Cabrera of ECHO Philippines. The music video also featured Joshua "CH4KNU" Mangilog of Smart Omega and selected shoutcasters of MPL Philippines.
Format Group stage: 1 to 4 January 2023
16 teams qualified for the event are split into four groups of 4 teams each. All matches in the group stage are played in a series. The top two teams per group qualified for the Upper Bracket Playoffs. The bottom two teams per group qualified for the Lower Bracket Playoffs. Knockout stage (playoffs): 7 to 14 January 2023
Sixteen teams play in a double-elimination tournament. Eight teams begin in the Upper Bracket, and eight teams begin in the Lower Bracket. Lower Bracket Rounds 1 and 2 are a Bo3 series. The rest of the playoffs are played in a Bo5 series.
Grand finals: 15 January 2023
The grand finals will be a Bo7 series between the upper bracket and lower bracket finalists.
Rosters +Official rosters of all qualified teamsTeamPlayersCoach/managerJungleExp LaneGold LaneMidlanerRoamer Blacklist International Wise (Danerie James Del Rosario) Edward (Edward Jay Dapadap) Oheb (Kiel Calvin Soriano) Hadji (Salic A. Imam) Eson (Mark Jayson Gerardo) OhMyV33Nus (Johnmar Villaluna) DexStar (Dexstar Louise Alaba) BON CHAN (Kristoffer Ed L. Ricaplaza) Echo Philippines KarlTzy (Karl Gabriel Nepomuceno) SanFord (Sanford Vinuya) Bennyqt (Frederic Benedict Gonzales) Sanji (Alston Pabico) KurtTzy (Jankurt Matira) Yawi (Tristan Cabrera) Jaypee (Jaypee Cruz) Tictac (Harold Reyes) ONIC Esports Kairi (Kairi Rayodelsol) Butsss (Muhammad Satrya Sanubari) CW (Calvin Winata) Sanz (Gilang) Drian (Adriand Larsen Wong) Kiboy (Nicky Fernando) Samoht (Thomas Obadja) Aldo (Ronaldo Liebert) RRQ Hoshi Alberttt (Albert Iskandar) R7 (Rivaldi Fatah) Banana (Andre Putra)Skylar (Schevenko Tendean) Clayyy (Deden Nurhasan) Lemon (Muhammad Ikhsan) Vyn (Calvin) Arcadia (Michael Bocado) Team HAQ Garyy (Muhammad Syafizan Najmi) Lolla (Mohamad Nilzaihan bin Neilham) Panda (Poh Chun Wai) Mann (Aiman Anuar bin Zairie) Syamskyyy (Muhammad Qamarul Hisyam bin Shukri) Minn (Aimin Anuar bin Zairie) Pabz (Khairul Azman bin Mohd Sharif) Todak Rival (Muhammad Alif Akmal bin Kamarulzaman) CikuGais (Muhammad Danial bin Mohamad Fuad) 4Meyz (Wan Usman bin Wan Imran) Momo (Idreen bin Abdul Jamal) Moon (Zikry bin Shamsuddin) Yums (Muhammad Qayyum Ariffin bin Mohd Suhairi) Amoux (Ariff Iswandi) S11 Gaming Argentina Jotun (Diego Balog) Papadog (Alexander Llanos) Kaii (Martias Roldan) Mael (Gonzalo Leguizamon) Chan (Darien Barraza) Erwin (Rodrigo Herenu) Secretaria (Bárbara Gottardo) Malvinas Gaming Fran (Fran Solís) Dragon (Alexander Sullon) JoelCrew (Joel Huarino) Harle (George Campos) Stephe (José Machaca) Soujin (Gian Franco) Tsubasaa (Walaci Seabra) RSG Singapore Brayyy (Brayden Teo) Diablo (Yeo Lun) Babycakes (Jovan Heng) 505 (Amos Rui) Roy. (Royven Tan) Lolsie (Bellamy Yeov) CS (Yong Chester) SaintDeLucaz (Dolly Pelo) Burn x Team Flash Chma (Sour Mara) Xeon (Kunn Chankakada) ATM (Kosal Piseth) Hesa (Jhonwin Vergara) Fury (Vithou Sovisal) C Cat (Sok Roth) D7 (Ty Oudom) Zico (John Dizon) RRQ Akira Kiing (Lucas Godoy) Blink (Gabriel Favoreto) Tekashi (Arthur Nascimento) Gustalagusta (Gustavo Lima) Seigen (Matheus Lima) Luiizz (Luiz Henrique Alves) Cabral (Godman Campos Dos Santos) Occupy Thrones Lio (Mustafa Mahmoud) Hulk (Abdulaziz Sulaimani) Wega (Mohmed Wageeh) Gado (Ahmed Gado) Fury (Naif Alslobi) Maro (Amr Khaled) WarBarbie (Alexander Korystin) Mundo (Ameniel Del Mundo) Falcon Esports Kenn (Kenneth Hein) Yellowflash (Min Khant Hein) Silent (Pyae Sone) Zippx (Kyaw Bo) RubyDD (Swan Aung) JustiN (Pyae Khant) Naomi (Min Ko) Dale (Steve Vitug) MDH Esports Jowga (Nguyễn Văn Tô Đô) TheKing (Nguyễn Việt Thanh) Hehehehehehe (Lâm Văn Đạt) NeedMyHelp (Lê Minh Đức) Gnart (Phạm Ngọc Trạng) tntk Incendio Supremacy Tienzy (Sidar Menteşe) Alien (Bariş Ali Çakir) Lunar (Mehmet Ilgun) Sunshine (Emre Sari) Rosa (Ahmet Batir) Apex47 (Furkan Akbulut) Paranoid (Osman Karademir) The Valley MobaZane (Michael Cosgun) FwydChickn (Ian Hohl) Mielow (Chris Enobio) Basic (Peter Bryce Lozano) Hoon (Jang Seong-hun) Shark (Oscar Vo) Balot Notes 1. Alexander "WarBarbie" Korystin from Ukraine, couldn't flight to Indonesia due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, he is replaced as a coach by Ameniel Del Mundo from Philippines. The Rosters for the MLBB M4 World Championships were a first with the majority of the players being Filipino or playing for the Philippines initially such as Kairi Rayosdelsol and Michael Bocado from Indonesia.
Broadcast talents The following is the official talent line-up for the M4 broadcast in Jakarta, Indonesia: Philippines Indonesia Malaysia Singapore United StatesMara (Mara Aquino)Mirko (Frederick Handy Loho)GideonQ (Gideon Khew Wei Yung)Jayz (Chris Yeo)Assassin Dave (Dave Mao)Aeterna (Rachael Melati)Wolf (Caisam Yvez Nopueto)Leo (Dan Cubangay)Gonie (Albert Serafin)Laphel (Mohd Amirul Aiman Mohammad Kamal)Naisou (Joseph Charles Rezabek)Arashi (Brydon Maslimta)Trex (H.B. Wagner)Clara (Clara Kartika Sari Utoyo)
Group draw The group draw was held on 8 December 2022. The sixteen teams that qualified for the global tournament were split into two pools and grouped into 4 groups of 4 teams each. The following were the rules for the group draw:
Teams from the same qualified region will not be drawn into the same group, if that happens the later team will be slotted into the next group. Teams in Pool 1 will not be drawn into the same group, 2 teams from MLSL in Pool 2 will not be drawn into the same group. The order of the draw is serpentine (ABCD-DCBA-ABCD-DCBA).
+Group Draw PoolsPool 1Pool 2 Blacklist International ECHO Philippines RRQ Akira Falcon Esports ONIC Esports RRQ Hoshi Occupy Thrones MDH Esports Team HAQ Todak S11 Gaming Argentina Incendio Supremacy RSG Singapore Burn x Team Flash Malvinas Gaming The Valley +Group Draw on 8 December 2022Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D Blacklist International ONIC Esports RSG Singapore Team HAQ Incendio Supremacy Todak Occupy Thrones RRQ Akira Falcon Esports Malvinas Gaming RRQ Hoshi The Valley Burn x Flash MDH Esports ECHO Philippines S11 Gaming Argentina
Group stage