Moonton Games, the creator of mobile MOBA Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), has announced that its official league in the MENA region, MPL MENA, has partnered with the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF).
As a part of this agreement, the SEF will sponsor player travel and visas for the MPL MENA Season 5 Playoffs, set to take place at VOV Gaming venue at ROSHN Front, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between June 13th and 15th.
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The MPL MENA is the official Mobile Legends: Bang Bang league in the Middle East and North African region, now in its fifth season. The league underwent a series of changes, including a shift to a seasonal format instead of two splits per year to allow its winners to compete in the Mid-Season Cup set to take place at the Esports World Cup later this year.
Interestingly, MPL MENA has two direct slots for the MSC, despite being one of the smaller leagues in terms of viewership.
The partnership with the Saudi Esports Federation, the governing body for esports in Saudi Arabia, will apparently be focused on player visas for the Season 5 finals of the MPL MENA. According to the two parties, the SEF will “sponsor the full cost of player travel visas for the Season 5 Playoffs.” Other than that, no activations or projects were announced for the playoffs.
Jaime Cruz, Head of Esports, Middle East & Africa at MOONTON Games, said: “We’re delighted to team up with the SEF to bring esports enthusiasts in the Kingdom and beyond access to MENA’s premier MLBB league.
“The rapid growth of MLBB esports in up-and-coming regions like Saudi Arabia, coupled with our shared commitment and expertise in creating professional, wholesome, and narrative-rich entertainment, make us supremely confident that the league will soar to greater heights this season.”
The MPL MENA Season 5 Playoffs will see the best two teams qualify directly to the Mid Season Cup at the Esports World Cup, and will feature a $100,000 (~£78,000) prize pool. The playoffs are set to take place at the VOV Gaming venue in Riyadh, after a partnership between MOONTON and the company was announced last year. VOV Gaming is owned by Saudi Government-backed Savvy Games Group.
