SILAB launches MLBB qualifier for MWI 2024

Filipina players have a new path to becoming great in competitive esports as powerful women in the Philippine esports and gaming scene unite for the launch of SILAB (EN: Spark), an all-female esports league.

Formed by influential women in the PH esports scene, SILAB’s first foray into the PH esports scene is through the launch of SILAB: Road to MWI Finals 2024, which is an all-female qualifier tournament for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational in the Philippines. 

The competition will run from 21 April to 12 May 2024, and will grant a spot in the MLBB Women’s Invitational 2024 to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in July 2024. 

SILAB’s founders are leading women in the Philippine esports and gaming scene. Among them are former Liga Adarna Commissioner Queen Wasabi, Overdrive Studios Founder and CEO Dani Rogacion, Fantech Philippines Esports and PR Manager Jang Bien, and MPL Philippines talent Chantelle Hernandez.

Also present to support the efforts of SILAB are SIBOL General Manager Leo Andrew “Jab” Escutin, and Lee Viloria, MOONTON Games’ Business Development and Partnerships Lead.

Viloria says, this is proof of developers’ importance to the representation of women in esports.

“With the launch of SILAB: Road to MWI Finals 2024, we hope that this platform will put the spotlight on our Filipina MLBB gamers to be seen and heard as they are equally strong and talented as our male gamers. Filipinas, apart from being managers, coaches, hosts, and casters, are also strong MLBB esports athletes,” Viloria told reporters in a press conference Friday.

Viloria also confirmed that the SILAB: Road to MWI Finals 2024 is the first major all-female MLBB tournament in the Philippines officially sanctioned by MOONTON Games. 

The tournament will be divided into three phases, namely Franchise Owners’ Qualifiers Round, SILAB Open Qualifiers, and MWI Philippines Grand Finals – the latter of which is set to be an offline or LAN event.

Chantelle says, part of what fuels SILAB to become the spark for Filipina esports is how women from all over the Philippines look forward to having more competitive opportunities, being exposed to the needs of the local esports and gaming community. 

“This partnership with MOONTON Games is a testament to their commitment to creating a platform for women and by women. We are grateful to MOONTON Games for creating the way towards inclusivity by mounting this event with us. May this initiative encourage women in esports to venture beyond their comfort zones and empower them to share their own narratives of success,” Chantelle said.

“We are delighted that this partnership between Moonton and Silab will bring much-needed momentum to move forward women in esports. We believe that esports is a great avenue to further push gender equality in sports and this collaboration will ignite the flames and light the way for our Esports community as a whole,” said Escutin. 

The winner of SILAB: Road to MWI Finals 2024 will be given a slot in the upcoming MWI 2024. This year, MWI will feature one of the largest prize pools for women’s tournaments in history, giving a bigger arena for female MLBB esports athletes. Thousands of teams will participate in the Open Qualifiers around the world for the competition, and 12 teams will vie to take home the title and get the biggest share of the prize pool worth US$500,000.

Interested teams may register now for SILAB through this link: https://bit.ly/WomenSilabOpenQualifier.