The Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will see Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) as the headlining esports event for the fourth consecutive time. The 33rd edition of the SEA Games, scheduled to be held from December 9th to December 20th, 2025, will take place in Thailand, with Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla serving as the host cities.
The SEA Games is a biennial multi-sport event featuring athletes from 11 Southeast Asian nations. Esports made its debut in 2019, and MLBB has been a prominent part of the competition since then. The 2019 SEA Games, hosted in the Philippines, featured titles such as Dota 2, Tekken 7, and MLBB, with subsequent editions expanding to include other popular games like PUBG Mobile and League of Legends.
MLBB’s tournament format at the SEA Games consists of a group stage followed by playoffs, culminating in a best-of-five series in the grand finals. The Philippines’ men’s team has dominated the competition, winning gold in the past three editions. In 2023, an all-female MLBB tournament was introduced, where Indonesia’s women’s team clinched the gold medal.
As the 2025 event approaches, expectations are high for the Philippines to continue their winning streak, potentially securing a fourth consecutive victory. The tournament is set to feature 11 teams, representing the best male and female players from across Southeast Asia.
