Malaysia’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tier-two league is heading into its third season tomorrow.

Here is everything you need to know about the revamped format of the MLBB Academy League Malaysia Season 3.

The MLBB Academy League Malaysia (MAL MY) is organised by the game’s developer, MOONTON Games, and IO Esports to provide grassroots MLBB talent with a path to professional esports.

Season 3 will feature a $20,000 (~£15,269) prize pool and a promotion slot to the country’s biggest MLBB esports stage, the MLBB Professional League (MPL) Malaysia.

The new season will also feature a more diverse talent pool with all-female team Johor Angels and collegiate team MSL x UITM. A total of 15 women athletes will participate in Season 3, the highest number in Malaysian MLBB esports history.

Season 3 of the Academy League will be divided into the Challenger and the Affiliated Conference. The Challenger Conference comprises the top four teams from MAL MY Season 2 and two from the Open Qualifier. Meanwhile, the Affiliate Conference includes six junior teams from Season 15 of MPL Malaysia.

With a similar format to Season 2, the Regular Season of MAL MY Season 3 will begin with Stage 1 from April 12th until May 6th, followed by Stage 2 from May 12th-22nd. The first stage will see teams play best-of-three (BO3) single round-robin matches within each Conference. The top eight teams from the Challenger Conference and the top four squads from the Affiliated Conference will advance to Stage 2.

Throughout the second stage, teams from the Affiliated and the Challenger Conference will face each other in single round-robin BO3 matches. The top six teams from the Challenger Conference and the top four from the Affiliated Conference will qualify for the Playoffs.

The Challenger Conference Playoffs will take place from June 26th-29th with a revamped format. The Semi-Finals match between the final two Challenger Conference teams will determine who may ascend to MPL Malaysia Season 16.

Afterwards, the losing team will face the 9th-placed squad from MPL Malaysia Season 15 in the ‘Challenger vs Defender’ match. The winner will also earn a slot in MPL Malaysia Season 16.    

Overwatch 2 developer Blizzard Entertainment has announced that 6v6 open queue will remain active throughout Season 16 in both quickplay and competitive.

Detailed in the latest Director’s Take blog post, the studio shares that it is exploring how ‘5v5 role queue and 6v6 open queue can coexist’ in the long term.

According to the studio, there was a 3:1 ratio of players choosing 5v5 competitive over 6v6, but the latter ‘remained steady’ throughout Season 15. Despite having a two-tank limit, preventing the GOATS meta from returning, developers acknowledged that 6v6 was in high demand.

In the blog post, Alec Dawson, Associate Game Director for Overwatch 2, said: “We were curious how the two-tank limit would pan out, but most games landed on the classic two-tank, two DPS, two support setup.

“Tank players in 6v6 clearly enjoy having another tank ‘buddy’ in their corner and no matter which role they choose, players are loving shorter queue times and the ability to swap roles within a match. There’s also a heightened sense of chaos that some folks just can’t get enough of.”

6v6 has been one of the most popular and divisive topics in Overwatch 2, and saw demand in esports and casual scenes. It was initially introduced as a limited-time event last December as Overwatch Classic. When it was reintroduced as a mid-season update for Season 15, 6v6 open queue became the third most popular mode according to Blizzard.

Overwatch 2 Season 16 kicks off on April 22nd and will run until July 1st, 2025, marking what may be the beginning of a more permanent stay for the new 6v6 format.

The Director’s Take blog post also shared changes to it’s new perk system, which recently got introduced to OWCS, updating pre-existing perks while adding in new ones.

Here is a brief breakdown of all the perk changes coming in Season 16.

It also shared that Tracer will receive nerfs to her perks that alter her blinks, potentially Blink Packs and/or Flashback. It also teased that one of Mei’s old mechanics will return as a perk, which some speculate might be reintroducing freezing to her primary fire.

Latin American esports organisation Isurus Estral has announced the addition of Korean top laner Park ‘Summit‘ Woo-tae to its roster for LTA South Split 2.

The announcement sees Summit replace fellow Korean player Noh ‘Burdol‘ Tae-yoon in the starting lineup.

The roster change occurs with the LTA South Split 2 already underway, which rarely happens in the modern era of League of Legends. After winning Split 1, Isurus Estral found itself on the backfoot at the beginning of the new split, having lost the two opening matches against paiN Gaming and FURIA.

The team seemingly has had issues adapting to the meta, which heavily revolves around the top lane. Burdol struggled in the opening rounds and is not known for his carry-oriented playstyle, thus the replacement.

Summit’s addition to the roster is expected to change that trend as he has often played top lane carries throughout his career. The Korean player is expected to debut against Fluxo W7M on Saturday and will then face Vivo Keyd Stars on the following day.

Starting out as a sub for Afreeca Freecs in the LCK, Summit started getting recognition during his tenure on SANDBOX Gaming (later renamed to Liiv SANDBOX), where he often played a key role in exerting pressure and finding advantages in the top lane.

His playstyle eventually led him to find a place on Cloud9 in the former LCS. The supposed upgrade over the domestic talents, however, didn’t work out, and Summit was sent to China to FunPlusPhoenix prior to the start of the 2022 Summer Split.

At the start of the 2023 season, he rejoined the LCS with Team Liquid on a full Korean-speaking roster alongside world champion jungler Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon. Once again, the team was unable to get satisfying results and was eliminated in the Swiss round at Worlds 2023.

Joining Movistar R7 in the LLA last year, Summit made it to Worlds back-to-back. Despite the result, the player announced his retirement at the end of the year as he announced his shift to streaming. It seems like that shift didn’t last long, and Summit will make his return to Summoner’s Rift with Isurus Estral after only five months.

BETER, a provider of fast betting content, data, and live streaming, has officially entered the US market through regulatory approval from the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) in New Jersey.

This milestone marks BETER’s first foothold in the United States, unlocking opportunities to deliver its betting solutions to licensed operators in the state.

The company’s debut product in New Jersey is its flagship Setka Cup table tennis tournaments, now live on bet365’s New Jersey platform.

Known for its fast-paced action, Setka Cup hosts over 11,000 matches monthly across 16 arenas worldwide, offering players an immersive experience with 30+ betting markets per event.

Each match is monitored by BETER’s in-house integrity team to ensure transparency and fair play.

BETER’s arrival in New Jersey is just the beginning of its ambitious expansion across the US.

With plans to introduce additional products like its ESportsBattle tournaments featuring eFootball, eBasketball and eHockey, alongside classic sports such as basketball and tennis, BETER is poised to redefine fast betting experiences for American players.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, expressed excitement about this pivotal achievement: “This is a milestone moment for the BETER team as we see tremendous potential for our fast betting products and solutions in New Jersey and across the US Setka Cup has cultivated a loyal following worldwide, and we’re thrilled to introduce it to bettors in New Jersey—and soon in other states.”

The company’s Esports Odds Feed further strengthens its portfolio by delivering odds for over 450 tournaments globally.

With more than 40,000 pre-match and live events annually calculated using official data by expert traders, BETER ensures precision and reliability for operators and bettors alike.

With a proven track record across Europe and Latin America, BETER is set to revolutionise the US betting landscape—delivering nonstop action tailored for next-generation players while driving operator engagement and revenue growth.

Monster Energy has joined forces with British Call of Duty: Warzone player and streamer Ethan ‘Fifakill’ Pink as part of a new content series.

Named Behind the Stream, the series created by the energy drink brand provides fans with a behind-the-scenes insight into the lives of content creators around the world.

The first episode of Behind the Stream features Fifakill, one of the UK’s most successful Call of Duty players. The Warzone player first joined Monster Energy in 2023 and has represented the brand for the past two years.

During the episode, the streamer provides insight into his setup in addition to his go-karting aspirations while he’s not competing in Call of Duty: Warzone tournaments.

Speaking to Esports Insider, Fifakill stated: “Working with Monster Energy is a breath of fresh air. I am surrounded by talented people all the way from administration through to content production and everything in between.

“I have met loads of people, many of who have become good friends and who provide career and content support as well as culturing a secure mental support environment which is invaluable on this career path.”

In addition to representing the brand, Fifakill is a member of Quadrant, the gaming and lifestyle brand owned by McLaren Formula One driver Lando Norris. While the brand continues to have a presence within gaming, it shifted away from esports in October 2024 after departing the Halo scene.

The streamer is regarded as one of the best Warzone players in the world. During the most recent Twitch Rivals tournament, the first to take place since Warzone reintroduced the Verdansk map, Team Fifakill placed third taking home $2,700 (~£2,062) in prize money.

Fifakill is one of several content creators taking part in Monster Energy’s Behind the Stream series. Information on other streamers involved with the project has yet to be revealed.

Monster Energy, one of the most recognisable brands in the world, is also no stranger to the esports industry. In April, it partnered with Korean esports organisation Hanwha Life Esports and has also supported several grassroots initiatives within the UK and Ireland over the years.

League of Legends skins have become a big business, driving esports revenue. No matter how experienced you are with the free-to-play MOBA game, you’ll likely have seen the ability to collect and use skins for particular champions during certain matches.

These allow players to change the appearance of an in-game character, from the minimum of a color change to a complete overhaul with new voice lines and sound effects. Some skins are chargeable, while others require some expert crafting to obtain.

Yet skins also serve as a great revenue model, and developer Riot Games knows this. With this in mind, we’re breaking down various skins in League of Legends, such as project skins and new League skins, as well as their role in the future of in-game cosmetics.

League skins allow players to express their personality in-game without affecting gameplay. This is done by altering a champion’s appearance, such as changing animations, sounds, and visual effects. 

Although there are League of Legends custom skins accessible by third-party tools, this is something Riot Games doesn’t support. 

For reference, Riot Games does not officially endorse third-party LoL custom skins but has historically tolerated them if they are purely cosmetic. However, they prohibit any changes that affect gameplay outcomes, and anything providing an unfair advantage risks a ban.

Still, there are thousands of official skins available, which are categorised into nine skin types. 

It’s also important to note how cosmetics play a role in other media, such as League of Legends’ arcane skins. Available to watch on Netflix, players were able to obtain skins inspired by the TV series, which aired between 2021 and 2024. 

It’s a great example of how skins can transcend the game and be related to not just esports teams but a TV show as well.

There are over 1,700 obtainable skins in League of Legends as of April 2025, offering variety and diversity to many players. Most of them can be bought using the in-game currency Riot Points (RP). 

Although players loved Ahri’s skin, many were frustrated and dissatisfied with the cost, saying, “Riot is knowingly betraying its community to sell it at such an unreasonable price point.”

As League of Legends is a free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, much of its business model revolves around offering skins as a main revenue stream. Riot Games also monetises the game through other means, such as loot boxes and battle passes, but the skins serve as a way to appeal to its millions of active players.

The variety of available skins spurs revenue growth. Whilst some can be earned through crafting and other in-game means, the majority of skins are obtained by spending Riot Points, the game’s currency. The Mythic Shop is where players can purchase skins, which also rotates its selection for players to further appeal with new and rare skins for different champions.

It’s important to consider just how League of Legends cosmetics play a role in esports tournaments every year. 

For example, players can wear team-branded Championship skins to show loyalty to their favorite esports teams participating in certain events. 

In some tournaments, a percentage of the sales made from these skins go back into the prize pool. This way, funds are reinvested back into the ecosystem of esports, showcasing how revenue can be generated directly from team-branded digital merchandise.

League of Legends skins can be a crucial factor in driving community engagement and consumer behavior, which Riot Games expertly manages at esports tournaments and events around the world.

In any game, whether it’s single-player or multi-player, players can feel an emotional attachment or a sense of loyalty to certain characters. This can mean that some will want to spend money on cosmetics to express their liking for others.

The amount of limited-time and rare skins in League of Legends can also incentivise players to play the game more, which could result in more revenue for Riot Games as a whole. 

Esports tournaments let viewers see team-branded and Championship skins, which might make them want to get those skins for their own characters. This can also boost viewership, especially if new skins are revealed at these events.

There are plenty of skin-driven revenue milestones that span across various champions in League of Legends. These include:

As of April 8, 2025, no official skin-specific revenue data has been released in 2024 or 2025. However, given Riot’s consistent output of 120–140 new League skins annually, plus new Valorant bundles and Wild Rift cosmetics, skin revenue likely remains robust.

In-game champion cosmetics drive much revenue in League of Legends and offer some form of diversity and originality. Yet, we’re arguably only in the early days of it. As esports becomes a regular occurrence on TV channels, fans will want to own a piece of their favorite players and teams.

Skins could be an important part of esports monetisation. People want to stand out and show their unique style when playing team games like League of Legends. And Riot Games sees big potential for skin sales. The challenge is figuring out how to take skins to the next level as the esports industry grows.

The sixth edition of Marvel Rivals Fight Night has concluded for both the European (EU) and North American (NA) brackets.

This Fight Night saw some surprise wins and losses. European organisation Virtus.pro was at the top of its game, while Shikigami proved to be a dark horse in North America’s esports scene.

All games took place in a single-elimination bracket, with matches being best-of-five. Two invited teams duked it out to progress to the finals, where they faced off against the last Fight Night winners.

First place winners of both EU and NA received a $1,000 prize, and will be invited to Marvel Rivals Fight Night #7 as the ‘team to beat’.

Virtus.pro once again proves to be amongst the strongest teams in the Marvel Rivals EU esports scene. Looking strong after the EMEA Invitational, the organisation was able to come out on top against competitors ROYAL BEAMERS (RB) and Luminosity Gaming EU.

The end result was 3-1 to Virtus.pro, marking its third win against Luminosity Gaming EU in Marvel Rivals Fight Night. It is an identical result from Fight Night #5 EU.

With such a strong performance in Season 1 and 1.5, many are confident the team will continue its momentum when the Season 2: Hellfire Gala changes are released.

During the livestream Jacob ‘JAKE’ Lyon, a commentator for Fight Night EU, said: “I think VP still hasn’t shown all their cards. We’re going to see some big changes in the meta coming up with Season 2, but I’m just excited to see what VP will show us. I’m not worried at all for their competitive strength, I still think they’re going to be the best team in EU.”

Across the world, Shikigami claimed a surprise victory against NA Invitational champions 100 Thieves in Marvel Rivals Fight Night #6 NA.

After beating BOOM Crew 3-0, Shikigami were considered the underdogs as the team faced the previous winners of Fight Night #5 NA in the finals. After nearly 2 hours of play, Shikigami shocked the scene after taking home the win.

It is interesting to note that this is the first time these two teams have faced off against one another in a tournament scene, as Shikigami never progressed far enough back in NA Invitational #2 to face 100 Thieves.

While Shikigami celebrates it win, concerns are being raised about 100 Thieves performance in the last weeks of the season. The organisation also lost to Sentinels back in MRC Season 1, in the NA PC bracket. Only time will tell if 100 Thieves will recover in Season 2.

Andrew ‘ZP’ Rush, one of the casters for Fight Night NA, said: “A brand new season means a team chalk full of talent like 100 Thieves can get time to look at the new meta, revamp, retool, and come back in and show that they still got it.

“It’s been a tough two weeks for 100 Thieves, whether it be MRC or Marvel Rivals Fight Night here. This is a learning experience, and I do think 100 Thieves will come back stronger than ever. But you got to give the flowers here to Shikigami for just defying all expectations and having incredible performances across their entire roster.”

With BLAST Slam III kicking off on May 5th, BLAST.tv has officially revealed the 10 invited teams that will compete in one of the biggest Dota 2 events of the year for the trophy and a massive $1m (~£770,635) prize pool.

Taking place at BLAST Studios in Copenhagen, the tournament will feature defending champions Tundra Esports alongside BetBoom Team, the inaugural Slam winners that are looking to bounce back after an underwhelming performance in Slam II.

Check out the complete list of participating teams below:

The tournament will begin with the teams being divided into two groups, with five teams each, competing in a single round-robin format. The top five teams from each group will move on to the single-elimination playoffs. 

The first-place team from each group will advance directly to the Semifinals, while second-place teams will be seeded into the Quarterfinals. Teams finishing 3rd will start their journey in Round 2, while the 4th and 5th place teams will have to battle starting from Round 1. 

All group stage matches will be best-of-one, while the playoffs will feature best-of-three series, except best-of-five Grand Final taking place on May 11th to crown the winner.

“Prepare for an action-packed adventure as these elite teams engage in high-stakes clashes, filled with awe-inspiring gameplay and impeccable strategy in Slam’s unique tournament format, with an unparalleled viewing experience, delivered straight from the BLAST Studios,” the official announcement stated.

The full schedule and prize pool distribution for BLAST Slam III will be announced soon. Fans will be able to catch all the action live on the BLAST Slam Dota 2 Twitch and YouTube channels, along with BLAST.tv’s official website.

European esports organisation Team Secret has announced it has signed chess grandmaster Anish Giri.

Giri will represent the organisation during the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup alongside the second leg of the Champions Chess Tour.

The announcement was made by Team Secret on April 9th, 2025, as the organisation becomes the latest to add a chess player to its ranks ahead of the Esports World Cup where chess will make its debut.

Giri is one of 15 grandmasters that has signed for an organisation in the weeks leading up to the tournament which features a $1.5m (~£1.1m) prize pool.

“We’ve always looked for talent that’s not only world-class but also forward-thinking,” said John Yao, CEO of Team Secret. “Anish is that and more. He’s a brilliant competitor and also a hilarious and winning personality. We’re beyond excited to have him on board.”

Giri, currently ranked 18th in the world, became a grandmaster at 14 years old. Since then, he has become a four-time Dutch champion and built an online following of nearly one million followers.

Team Secret is one of several esports organisations that has expanded into chess in recent weeks. The likes of Team Liquid, Team Falcons, Wolves Esports, and more have also signed top-ranked players in preparation for the Esports World Cup which will feature a $70m (~£53.5m) prize pool split across 25 titles and the Club competition.

The inclusion of chess at the Esports World Cup is a contributing factor as to why esports organisations are signing chess players.

With a record-breaking amount of prize money on offer at 2025’s event, fielding the best players in the world gives organisations the best chance to earn points for the Club competition in which the winner takes home $7m (~£5.3m).

2024’s Club Championship was won by Saudi Arabian esports organisation Team Falcons after it achieved ten top-three placements and two victories.