Following one of the most jaw-dropping finishes at the 2024 Esports World Cup, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational (MWI) is set to make a thrilling return to Riyadh in July 2025. Last year's event saw Smart Omega Empress pull off a historic upset, defeating long-dominant Team Vitality in the Grand Final and breaking their three-year, 24-tournament winning streak.
The stakes are set to be even higher in 2025, with 16 of the world's best all-women MLBB teams competing for glory and a record-setting prize pool. The tournament will run from July 15th to 19th, starting with a double-elimination Group Stage that includes all 16 qualified teams.
The top eight teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket, where they will battle for their share of a $550,000 prize pool, along with a $10,000 MVP bonus for the tournament's standout performer.
This year's qualifier structure is more inclusive than ever, drawing top talent from nearly every region. Several powerhouses have already secured their spots, including DreamMax from the MWI 2025 LATAM Qualifiers, CFU Serendipity from Queen Legends Season 1, NAVI MY from the MYSG Qualifier, and Falcons Vega MENA from the Carry1st Africa Cup.
Additional slots will be filled through ongoing regional events such as BOG Season 1, Athena League, and Lady MVP Season 6, with other regional qualifiers from China, North America, Mekong, Mongolia, and Türkiye concluding in the coming weeks.
MWI’s return is a highlight of the larger Esports World Cup 2025, an event that brings together top clubs across multiple titles to compete in a unique cross-game format. Smart Omega Empress will return as the defending champions, but with formidable teams from around the globe, their title defense is far from assured.
