Philippine esports makes waves as a powerhouse in the international scene

Philippine esports is shaping up to be a force to be reckoned with across the globe. With the local gaming market growing rapidly, Filipino esports athletes have started to gain recognition in the international gaming scene, achieving winning streaks in some of the most prestigious tournaments worldwide. Standing at the forefront of this global success is the OPPO-sponsored esports team Blacklist International, the team set to represent the Philippines in the third installment of the Mobile Legends World Championships (M3 World Championship) this December 2021.

Blacklist International (BLI) is the back-to-back defending champion of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) in the Philippines. Securing Season 7 and 8 titles in 2021, they are the second team in MPL Philippines’ history to win two consecutive times. Earlier this month, the team reached a new milestone when they placed second at the MPL Invitational, wherein 20 of the top MPL teams across Southeast Asia were invited to battle out for a $100K prize pool.

“Blacklist International has always aimed at taking Philippine esports to unimaginable heights on a global scale. We extend our utmost gratitude to everyone who has shown their support, especially OPPO, who have seen the great potential of the BLI members to continue the battle. OPPO’s entry into the esports league has greatly helped professional players like us dream bigger and fight harder,” said Bon Chan, Coach of Blacklist International.

There is no doubt that BLI players have started to make a name for themselves on the international stage. Starting out as a grassroots program, their recent success has further solidified the Philippines’ position as a leader in cultivating esports talents and champions globally, thereby empowering gaming enthusiasts to pursue esports as a legitimate career path.

"OPPO is here to support young Filipino talents in esports and help them achieve their fullest potential. Our partnership with Blacklist International is just a portion of what the Company is doing to cultivate the skills of Filipino gamers to be world-class esports talents. With OPPO’s smartphone technology, nothing is impossible for these dreamers,” said Ele Yu, OPPO Philippines Marketing Director.

Many Filipinos are thrilled to see BLI play in front of a wider audience at the M3 World Championship as one of the two Philippine representatives. While this will be their first-ever world championship appearance, the team has promised to give their best in winning back-to-back crowns after PH team Bren Esports had bagged the world title in M2 World Championships.

“Mineski Philippines congratulates Blacklist International as they have already made tons of Filipinos proud by representing the country in a global gaming community. Their appearance alone is a resounding testament to the Philippines' position as a serious esports contender. We are humbled and proud to be working with brands like OPPO who have been investing in esports and enhancing the mobile gaming experience of users,” said Mark Navarro, Country Manager of Mineski Philippines.

Blacklist International is bound to take over the arena of the M3 World Championships next month. The tournament will be held offline in Singapore starting from December 6 to 19. Sixteen teams from around the world will be fighting for the coveted prize pool set at US$800,000, three times larger than previous world championships.

You may view the complete list of teams here: worlds.mobilelegends.com/team

Blacklist International are proud users of the new OPPO Reno6 Series that includes a special Game Focus Mode that lets users temporarily tune out interruptions so that they can enjoy a full immersive gaming experience. The #OPPOReno6 5G (Php26,999) and #OPPOReno6 Z 56 (Php19,999) are now available at Shopee, Lazada or any OPPO retail brand store.