The Azerbaijan Esports Federation (AZESF) is proud to announce an official partnership with MOONTON Games, the developer and publisher of the internationally acclaimed mobile title, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB). With over 1.5 billion installations and 110 million monthly active users, MLBB is one of the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games worldwide. This partnership marks a significant step in elevating Azerbaijan’s competitive gaming landscape through establishing a sustainable and structured platform for MLBB players, teams, and fans.
Together, AZESF and MOONTON Games will work hand-in-hand to nurture grassroots talent, organise regular competitive events, and promote MLBB as one of the leading mobile esports titles in the country. With mobile gaming gaining unprecedented traction globally and across the Commonwealth of Indepdent States (CIS) region, this partnership seeks to establish Azerbaijan’s presence within the regional and international MLBB community.
“This partnership is more than symbolic—it’s a commitment to the youth of Azerbaijan who have shown growing interest in mobile esports. We are proud to be working with MOONTON Games to provide structure, opportunity, and visibility to MLBB players in our country,” said Ogtay Gasimzada, President of AZESF.
Ajay Jilka, Head of Esports, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, and Emerging Markets at MOONTON Games, added: “We are honored to join hands with AZESF in supporting the growth of esports in the country. Baku has already proven itself on the world stage through top-tier events such as the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and we hope that the same spirit of excellence may be achieved in esports one day. Our goal is to support the Federation in nurturing the next generation of MLBB players, offering them both regional and international opportunities to develop and showcase their skills. We believe that by working closely together, we can help create an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem that benefits not only the players, but also the wider Azerbaijani esports community.”
As the first step in this partnership, AZESF will host Azerbaijan’s inaugural official MLBB tournament in September 2025. The event will feature both online qualifiers and a high-profile offline final.
AZESF also plans to integrate MLBB into its newly launched University Esports Circuit, offering students across the country the chance to represent their institutions and compete in structured inter-university leagues. This move will help discover fresh talent, encourage healthy competition, and further solidify the role of MLBB in Azerbaijan’s academic and youth communities.
In addition, the Federation will:
- Establish monthly community cups and campus tournaments
- Launch training programs and streamer activations to support aspiring players and creators
- Work with local telecom and tech partners to enhance mobile esports accessibility
MLBB boasts a global esports ecosystem anchored by international tournaments such as the M Series and the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC). Regional leagues like the MLBB Professional League (MPL) offer aspiring athletes a structured path to the global stage. At the grassroots level, MOONTON Games supports community and campus tournaments to cultivate the next generation of esports talent. This comprehensive, multi-tiered framework led MLBB to become the most-watched mobile esports title of 2024, according to Esports Charts. This achievement has established MLBB as the global benchmark for esports excellence.
This partnership will lay the groundwork for Azerbaijan to join the rapidly growing global mobile esports community. Through this effort, both organizations aim to create a vibrant, inclusive, and competitive space for gamers across the nation.
