KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 2 November 2026—The Giants were shaken, but they did not fall. Selangor Red Giants (SRG) survived their toughest title defence yet after Team Rey (TR) forced the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Professional League (MPL) Malaysia Season 18 Grand Finals into a deciding seventh game. SRG prevailed 4–3 to secure their sixth consecutive league title, extending their unprecedented reign at the top of Malaysian esports.
The showdown marked the first MPL Malaysia Grand Finals to go the full distance since Season 12, six seasons ago. For TR, who suffered an early exit from the Season 17 Playoffs, reaching the Grand Finals marked a remarkable turnaround as they came within one game of ending SRG’s dominance.
Both finalists secured Malaysia’s Golden Tickets to the M8 World Championship (M8) Main Stage in Istanbul, Türkiye—where the M Series will make its European debut. SRG and TR now set their sights on bringing international glory back to Malaysia as they aim to stand above the world.
Michael “Arcadia” Bocado, head coach of SRG, said: “It has been a while since we felt this kind of adrenaline, and I am really happy with the result. Credit to Team Rey for stepping up their game and giving us such an exciting challenge. I believe Malaysia has two strong representatives heading into the M8. For SRG, we finished third at the M7 World Championship, and this time, we want to go further. We hope to relive the glory and pride of winning the MSC in 2024 and bring that glory back to Malaysia.”
MPL Malaysia Season 18 recorded its second-highest Peak Concurrent Viewership (PCV) in league history, reaching 774,511 PCV, according to Esports Charts, reinforcing its position as one of Malaysia’s leading esports entertainment properties.
Viktor Proniakin, Product Manager of Esports Charts, shared: “MPL Malaysia Season 18 was one of the strongest in the league’s history, and the Grand Final was its high point. TikTok played a central role in that growth. It accounted for 57.7% of all watch time, its fifth consecutive season of growth, making MPL Malaysia the most TikTok-driven of the three largest MPL leagues. That’s where Malaysian fans now follow the league, and MPL Malaysia is meeting them there.”
The Grand Finals drew a sold-out crowd to Stadium Juara, Kuala Lumpur, while Mamak Juara watch parties brought the championship experience to fans across Johor, Selangor, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, and Sarawak.
The celebrations also honoured Aiman “Laphel” Kamal, a prominent Malaysian MLBB caster, analyst, and broadcast host, who was crowned the MPL Malaysia Season 18 Legenda in recognition of his contributions to the esports scene. Marking MLBB’s 10th anniversary, the award featured a record 20 nominees, with Laphel receiving a Chery Tiggo Cross HEV presented by Official Automotive Partner Chery.
