Jakarta transformed into a vibrant Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) stage for the M7 World Championship Opening Ceremony, themed “Rise as One.” The event celebrated MLBB as Indonesia’s national sport alongside football and badminton, kicking off the seventh M Series tournament (9-25 January) at Batavia PIK. With over 1.5 billion installs and 110 million MAU, MLBB drew 475 million Hours Watched in 2024, per Esports Charts. This marks the series’ return to Indonesia since M4.
M7 Opening Ceremony: Tradition Meets Modernity
The ceremony blended Indonesian heritage with futuristic displays. Swargaloka Dance Crew’s “Rise in Indonesia” featured 60 dancers in traditional attire from regions like East Java, Bali, Kalimantan, and Papua, incorporating mythology-inspired figures like Kadita and Gatotkaca—an MLBB hero from Indonesian folklore.
Voices of M7 World Championship and Grand Finale
“Voices of M7: Rise as One” featured a choral rendition of the theme song Sizzle, with flags of the 16 Main Stage teams raised by Gatotkaca cosplayers. The finale, “We Rise as One,” showcased neon-accented dancers and champions like Ihsan “Luminaire” Kusudana (M1 winner), Muhammad “Wannn” Ridwan (M1 winner), Vivi “Vivian” Indrawaty (3x Women’s Invitational champ), and bodybuilder Igede “Igedz Executioner” Dharma Susila lifting the M7 Trophy.
Irene Umar, Vice Minister of Creative Economy, said: “The M7 places Indonesia at the centre of the global esports stage… Let the world see Indonesia. Let the world see esports at its best.”
Tiger Xu, Global Head of MLBB Esports at MOONTON Games, added: “Rise As One is more than a theme—it’s a message… blending tradition with innovation.”
M7 Carnival and Citywide Celebrations
The M7 Carnival (23-25 January) offers six interactive zones, IDR 2.5 billion (~USD 150K) prizes, meet-and-greets with stars like Pascol, Jess No Limit, and champions Vivian/Wannn/Luminaire, plus performances by Stephanie Poetri, no na, Naykilla, Jemsii, DJ VILOID, and Dipha Barus. Red Bull’s Gaming Ground includes energy zones, breakdancing, and tournament sims. Tickets: https://id-mpl.com/m7?q=carnival.
Over 20 hand-painted murals of Gatotkaca honor players and culture nationwide. Log in 13 days (9-31 January) for free Edith “Verdant Knight” skin; M7 Pass (until 8 February) includes Gatotkaca “Solar Spark.” MLBB dominated 2025 with seven top mobile esports events, including a 3M+ PCV MSC at EWC.
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