First esports league in Cambodia announced as Smart partners with Mobile Legends creator Moonton
Cambodia’s growing legion of gamers can now join the big leagues of esports thanks to a new partnership between Smart Axiata and Moonton, the creator of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). This new collaboration will see the creation of Cambodia’s first-ever esports league, the MLBB Professional League (MPL), in which local teams can advance to play against the region’s best teams in international leagues and tournaments.
This groundbreaking league will offer Cambodian gamers the chance to hone their skills across a full league season and to take on the best local and international players. There is also a total of 30,000 USD prize money to be won in the league.
With Smart’s backing, the MPL is confirmed to run for two seasons over the next year, with the first season kicking off in August 2021 and running until October 2021.
Teams in the league will compete for cash prizes, the bragging rights of becoming the first champion of a major esports league in the Kingdom and the chance to represent Cambodia at the M3 international tournament at the end of the year.
Team registration will open soon, and all league matches will be livestreamed on the MLBB Facebook page, Leng by Smart Facebook page and Smart Axiata’s YouTube channel. All the details can be found on the Leng by Smart Facebook page along with information of other gaming options offered by Smart.
“We are so excited to be the partner of choice of Moonton for bringing a major esports league to Cambodia for the first time. Gaming is becoming ever more popular in Cambodia. We always listen to our customers, many of whom are passionate gamers that want a proper league here that will provide real competition and real opportunities to progress,” said Smart Axiata CEO Thomas Hundt.
“We have supported individual teams and tournaments in the past, but launching our very first esports league in partnership with Moonton is an important milestone and highlights our commitment to young Cambodians and this growing digital sector. It is our mission to connect gamers to the best games out there through Smart’s state of the art network,” Thomas added.
“Partnering with Smart as our league partner in Cambodia was an obvious choice, as they have dedicated a lot of time, effort and resources to growing esports in Cambodia. We are very excited to be working with them to bring this international-standard gaming experience and competition to Cambodia and all its talented gamers,” said Trinity Wu from Moonton.
The announcement of the league has created a real buzz of excitement among Cambodian gamers, especially as esports now feature at the SEA Games, which Cambodia is due to host in 2023.
“We have had many esports tournaments and competitions for Cambodian gamers, but this is the first-ever league here which will take gaming to a whole new level in the country. League play is much more prestigious among gamers as it tests our skills and abilities across several matches rather than in knockout tournaments where you can have one bad day and be eliminated immediately,” said LeeXin, team captain and manager of Smart Burn Gaming.
The first year of the Smart-Moonton partnership will feature two seasons of the MPL Cambodia league and will give the participating teams a chance to compete in the M3 and MLBB Southeast Asian Competition (MSC), two international league-based tournaments.
For Mobile Legends players and those interested in participating in the upcoming league, gamers can get unlimited data to play the game as much as they want by subscribing to Smart’s Mobile Legends Unlimited service for only 20 cents per week. Also, if they want to make in-game purchases, they can get 50% extra Razer Gold via the Razer Gold website when they purchase the currency with their Smart main balance.
For more information, follow the Smart Axiata Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lengby smart or visit www.smart.com.kh.