MLBB eyes Türkiye as gateway to Europe and MENA with M8 World Championship

Titas Khan Published April 30, 2026

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) is gearing up to cement Türkiye as a strong region that acts as the gateway to Europe and MENA.

Speaking to Jaxon about the upcoming M8 Türkiye Championship (MTC) and the future of the region, Ajay Jilka, the Head of Esports for MLBB EECA, Western Europe, and Türkiye, expressed why the region’s long-term growth matters and how MOONTON plans to nurture it.

Despite being one of the most popular mobile esports titles in Southeast Asia, this is the first time that the annual world championship is being hosted outside of the region.

With the M8 Championship being held in Türkiye, it marks a huge opportunity for MOONTON to grow the title outside of SEA.

Türkiye can lead to the growth of MLBB in Europe and MENA

Image credit: MOONTON

Ajay Jilka confirmed that MOONTON’s journey in Türkiye started with the launch of the MLBB Türkiye Championship (MTC) in 2023. The seventh season of the MTC was announced recently, and it features almost double the prize pool of Season 6.

He also emphasized that the MTC has created a structured national league, leading to a foundation for the local esports ecosystem. These changes heavily reflect MOONTON’s efforts to grow the title in the region.

Jilka went on to confirm that Türkiye is one of the “most important markets outside Southeast Asia” as it “sits at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East and Asia, which gives it a unique position as a natural bridge between regions.”

The goal for MOONTON is to make the region work as a “global touchpoint for MLBB,” allowing the title to grow across the global market while constantly building a strong base in Türkiye. This comes after the 2026 MLBB Esports roadmap introduced a five-region structure featuring SEA, EECA, EMEA, EA, and AMER.

While the continued growth in popularity on a global scale is highly beneficial, MOONTON has confirmed that the M8 Championship will hopefully “plug directly into longer-term growth” and not be a short-term attention grabber.

The publisher has committed to making substantial investments towards the growth of the playerbase, alongside keeping the community engaged with in-game content and campaigns.

With the esports industry booming in Türkiye, the upcoming championship is expected to drive plenty of attention, investment, and structure to the ecosystem.