The Swiss Stage of the M7 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang World Championship closed on January 17, 2026, and the pressure-packed phase delivered exactly what fans expect from elite MLBB competition. With a $1 million total prize pool and a $320,000 championship payout on the line, sixteen (16) teams entered the stage, but only eight (8) earned the right to move forward into the Knockout Stage, which begins on January 18.
Teams battled through a Swiss-system format that rewards consistency, adaptability, and deep draft preparation. Every series forced squads to adjust hero priorities, lane matchups, and macro rotations quickly. The teams that survived proved they could win under shifting conditions, not just in a single matchup but across multiple opponents.
Unlike group stages where teams only face a fixed set of opponents, the Swiss format pushes teams into repeated high-pressure matches against opponents with similar records. A strong early win moves a team into tougher pairings immediately, while losses force squads to fight through elimination rounds.
Qualified Teams for the Knockout Stage
These eight (8) teams secured their spots in the Knockout Stage:
| Qualified Team | Region |
|---|---|
| Alter Ego | Indonesia |
| Selangor Red Giants (SRG.OG) | Malaysia |
| Aurora Gaming | Turkey |
| Aurora Gaming PH | Philippines |
| Team Liquid PH | Philippines |
| ONIC | Indonesia |
| Yangon Galacticos | Myanmar |
| Team Spirit | CIS |
Each of these teams demonstrated strong adaptability across drafts, rotations, and late-game decision-making.
Alter Ego Set the Benchmark
Alter Ego delivered one of the cleanest Swiss Stage runs. The Indonesian powerhouse won three consecutive matches without dropping a series, showing excellent early-game tempo control and decisive objective calls. Their coordinated jungle pressure consistently forced opponents into defensive drafts, giving Alter Ego the freedom to dictate pace.
This flawless run sends a strong signal going into the Knockout bracket. Opponents will need to disrupt Alter Ego’s early map control if they want to challenge them.
Selangor Red Giants Maintain Regional Dominance
Malaysia’s Selangor Red Giants continued their domestic momentum on the international stage. The squad secured three straight victories in Swiss play, relying on disciplined team fights and strong late-game positioning.
Their ability to stabilize games after rough openings stood out. Even when opponents gained early gold leads, SRG.OG maintained vision control and punished overextensions with coordinated counter-engages.
Aurora Duo Deliver Solid International Presence
Both Aurora Gaming (Turkey) and Aurora Gaming PH advanced after steady Swiss performances.
- Aurora Gaming (Turkey) dropped only one match and handled most series with structured rotations and clean objective trading.
- Aurora Gaming PH also posted three wins, showing strong synergy in mid-to-late game team fights.
These results highlight how disciplined macro play can offset mechanical differences when facing diverse regional styles.
Team Liquid PH Balance Experience and Adaptation
Team Liquid PH started the Swiss Stage aggressively, winning early matches with strong draft execution and coordinated lane pressure. After absorbing a setback mid-stage, the squad adjusted its priority picks and secured the final win needed to qualify.
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Their experience in international tournaments shows in how quickly they refine drafts between matches, an advantage that becomes even more important in knockout play.
ONIC, Yangon Galacticos, and Team Spirit Grind Through Tough Paths
These three teams qualified after mixed Swiss runs, each finishing with three wins out of five matches.
- ONIC relied on disciplined macro play and patient scaling compositions.
- Yangon Galacticos showed resilience by stabilizing shaky early games through tight team coordination.
- Team Spirit leaned on structured rotations and objective-focused gameplay to close out decisive matches.
All three teams proved they can survive extended pressure, which bodes well for longer knockout series.
Teams Eliminated After Swiss Stage
Several well-known squads fell short during the Swiss phase. Team Falcons struggled to convert early advantages into consistent wins. CG Esports, CFU Gaming, and Evil failed to find stable momentum across matchups. Wild Card qualifiers Team Zone and Bootsgate Esports impressed early but could not maintain consistency once Swiss competition intensified.
These exits underline how unforgiving the Swiss format can be when teams lack adaptability across multiple drafts and opponent styles. You can watch the M7 World Championship livestream in official MLBB Esports YouTube channel.
