MLBB M6 World Championship: SEA Teams Dominate Group Stage in Jakarta
M6 World Championship is living up to hype, and it's Southeast Asia's finest who are setting pace. Held at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta before a raucous crowd of over 10,000 fans, group stage has concluded with three SEA teams — ONIC Philippines, Blacklist International, and RRQ Hoshi — finishing atop their respective groups without dropping a single series.
ONIC PH entered M6 as betting favorites after their dominant MPL Philippines Season 14 campaign, and they've done nothing to change that perception. Jungler Kairi has been in imperious form, recording highest KDA of any player in group stage at 8.7. His Fanny and Ling continue to be near-permanent bans against ONIC PH, forcing opponents into uncomfortable draft concessions that rest of roster ruthlessly exploits. Gold laner Kelra has been equally impressive, with his Beatrix play drawing comparisons to his legendary M4 finals performance.
Blacklist International's resurgence has been one of tournament's feel-good stories. After a disappointing M5 where they fell in quarterfinals, UBE strategy pioneers returned to their roots under coach BON CHAN. team's signature ultimate-based playstyle has evolved — it's more flexible now, incorporating split-push elements that make their late-game teamfighting even more dangerous. OHEB and Wise have both looked rejuvenated, and partnership with new roamer Jaymark has added a layer of aggression that previous iterations lacked.
RRQ Hoshi carries weight of Indonesian expectations on home soil, and so far they've shouldered it admirably. Jakarta crowd has been their sixth player, erupting with every successful gank and objective secure. R7, team's veteran midlaner, delivered a masterclass in group stage finale against Turkish representatives, going 9-0-11 on Valentina in a 14-minute stomp that sent arena into delirium.
bracket stage is where M6 gets serious. ONIC PH and Blacklist are on same side of upper bracket, meaning a semifinal clash between two Philippine juggernauts is on cards — a matchup that could effectively be real final. RRQ Hoshi sits on opposite side, with a likely quarterfinal against European dark horses Team Liquid, who showed improved form in group stage.
non-SEA contingent has struggled to keep pace. Chinese representatives Weibo Gaming showed flashes of brilliance but were undone by inconsistent laning phases. Brazilian squad Vivo Keyd earned respect with their scrappy playstyle but ultimately finished 1-2 in their group. gap between SEA and rest of world in MLBB remains significant.
Moonton announced that M6 viewership has already broken records, with group stage averaging 4.1 million concurrent viewers across all Platform — a 28% increase over M5. Indonesian viewership alone accounts for nearly half that figure, underscoring host nation's passion for game.
bracket stage begins this weekend, with all matches broadcast live on MPL official YouTube channel, Nimo TV, and TikTok. grand final is scheduled for April 6, and if group stage is any indication, a SEA team will almost certainly be lifting trophy. only question is which one.