MLBB: APBR, BLCK, DeVu and BxF win opening matches of Games of the Future 2024

3 out of 4 teams containing Filipino players dominate the opening stages of the Phygital Games of the Future 2024 in Kazan, Russia.

Among them are both PH-based teams invited to the tournament: Blacklist International and current MLBB World Champions AP.Bren, as well as Cambodian team Burn x Flash.

M5’s EECA bet and standout team Deus Vult also opened up their campaign in dominant fashion.

 

(PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/BREN ESPORTS)

The M5 World Champions opened their campaign in Russia against HomeBois, keeping their match fast with a 2-0 sweep against the Malaysia-based team. This puts the Bees at a 1-0 advantage in Group B. Marco “Super Marco” Requitiano and Rowgien “Owgwen” Unido were the Game 1 and Game 2 MVPs for this match, respectively.

 

(PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/BLACKLIST INTERNATIONAL)

Blacklist International, meanwhile, scored the edge over Fire Flux Esports, 2-0, in what appears to be a brewing global rivalry between both teams that dates back to the M5 World Championships. The win also puts the Codebreakers in prime position at Group C. Kiel “Oheb” Soriano proved his winning ways for Blacklist as the Filipino Sniper was called MVP of the match.

 

(PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK/BURN X FLASH)

As for Burn x Flash – the Cambodian MLBB team with Filipino imports, they scored a big 2-0 win against Chinese team Keep Best Gaming or KBG to put BxF at the top of the Group D standings. Their Filipino imports, Lee “Owl” Gonzales and Ian “Rindo” Seguiran, proved to be viable additions as both were Game 1 and Game 2 MVPs, respectively.

 

(PHOTO FROM DEUS VULT OFFICIAL TELEGRAM CHANNEL)

The breakout stars of the M5 World Championship – European team Deus Vult – also picked up a big win against the recomposed Burmese Ghouls – who also contained Filipino imports. DeVu fought in a convincing manner, 2-0, against the Ghouls to also score big in Group A. Russian midlaner Kemiran “Sunset Lover” Kochkarov was match MVP for DeVu.

The said series of matches opened up the two-day Group Stages, after which, 4 teams will be eliminated while the remaining 2nd and 3rd place teams will fight in the first round of the playoffs. The winners of the February 27 matches, meanwhile, will automatically qualify for the Quarterfinals.

The Games of the Future tournament, backed up by the Russian government and businesses, will last until March 2, 2024, with a prize pool of US$1 million. – PAOLO BARCELON, FRAGSTER.COM