How Team Vitality’s MLBB is breaking stereotypes about mobile gaming and women’s sports

A sports organization based in France Group Vitality one of the most successful programs in the history of competitive sports. And it’s not what you’d expect.

Team Vitality’s women’s team Mobile Legends: Bang Bang The team (MLBB) recently won its fourth championship title at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. According to the esports Charts data platform, 565,483 viewers witnessed the historic achievement of Team Vitality, making the show the most watched show. MLBB Women’s International (formerly Invitational) until now.

As one of the most accomplished women’s mobile sports series represented by the Western organization, Team Vitality MLBB occupies a unique position within the global sports scene. At EWC in Paris, the team showcased the competitive beauty of MLBB to a Western sports audience unfamiliar with or skeptical of mobile gaming, while at the same time challenging gender stereotypes in a male-dominated industry.

Esports Insider spoke to Indonesian stars about the dedication required in their discipline and their role in leading women’s sports.

What are the most popular esports titles in the West? Counter-Strike? League of Legends? VALORANT? They are definitely not mobile titles. And this is despite the likes of MLBB, Free Fire, and PUBG Mobile having already established a large following in Mpumalanga, especially in Southeast Asia.

For example, the 2024 League of Legends World Championship is the most watched esports tournament to date, with a peak of 6.9 million viewers. Its 2025 and 2023 models take second and third place, respectively. In fourth place, however, sits MLBB’s M7 World Championship with 5.7 million viewers. This is currently being followed another one the mobile esports event, Free Fire World Series 2021, reached 5.4 million viewers.

So, what’s holding back mobile esports in the West? I found an interesting internet discussion about this issue, where the main argument was that “Western media dominates the world, and is heavily biased against mobile games.” Outside of esports-specific media, major mobile esports events seem to be discussed more often and less often than “traditional” esports topics.

This means that gamers in Western regions are less likely to be invested in mobile gaming and its competitive scene.

Others argue that it is not a matter of bias but of “easiness of availability and demand.” Because mobile games do not have global reach beyond Southeast Asia, Western sponsors show little interest in mobile esports events. This creates a cycle of global disinvestment, leading to less global access and less global investment.

In addition, the “mobile color” is alive and well in all Western esports fandoms. Mobile games are closely associated with consumptive reward models, for example. Most notably, the “free-to-play” pricing strategy is used by many mobile titles, which do not involve an initial charge to access the game in exchange for microtransactions embedded in the long-term gaming experience.

In our exclusive interview with MLBB’s Team Vitality, two sisters Michelle “Chel” Siswanto again Cindy “Cinny” Siswanto highlighted accessibility and ease of use as distinctive features of mobile games. MLBB can be played almost anywhere, anytime, on a device that is more affordable than other gaming consoles.

In addition, Cinny revealed another factor that drew him to MLBB esports: “The meta in Mobile Legends keeps changing very quickly. So, it’s really fun to play with. Like, at the beginning of the month, this is the meta. Then at the end of the month, it’s different. […] I think that’s what makes Mobile Legends fun.”

Another aspect of “mobile prejudice” involves the sense of loyalty that many veteran Western gamers have carried toward the thrills of the games they grew up with. This may also create negative impressions towards other gaming consoles, including phones.

Mobile gaming is still a small thing compared to the likes of Counter-Strike and League of Legends. Furthermore, mobile titles are always more closely associated with mainstream games in the minds of Western game consumers. As a result, some veteran players in the West consider mobile esports titles to be less relevant because they believe that these games require less skill to operate.

Team Vitality’s MLBB lineup can’t single-handedly undo all the stereotypes attached to mobile gaming. However, stories like theirs show that consistent success in their teaching requires both excellent mechanics and dedication.

The Team Vitality core has won four of the five MLBB Women’s International (MWI) titles since its inception under the Bigetron Era in 2019. Five years later, the Bigeltron Era women’s team was acquired by Team Vitality, as was the entire Bigetron Esports brand last year. According to Gold Laner Chel, the team has followed an intensive training program especially to prepare MWI for EWC 2026.

“I think we started practicing for EWC like two months before EWC. And it was intense, our preparation”explained Chel. “We started playing tricks from 1 in the afternoon, but then we warmed up, we played scheduled games from 11 in the morning, and then we finished.[ed] at 9 pm. And outside of crime hours, we also made our own ranks. Like, we play in our free time.

“So, we have a full day to play quality games. And six days a week.”

As with most, if not all, esports disciplines, it takes more than in-game grind and mechanical skill to reach the highest level of competition in MLBB. Of course, a brilliant prodigy with a lot of talent can challenge veteran players. But to maintain a high position in the sports field, experience and team cohesion are important.

That’s it too Viorelle “Vival” Chen emphasized when asked how Team Vitality has achieved its level of consistency over several years and the ever-changing meta of MLBB: “Another important thing is that I have been playing with my team for a long time, so I am used to being used [to it]and I know what our game is like. All I have to do is do it right.”

The player added: “And another thing is that I have been a Jungler for a long time, I have played Mobile Legends for a long time, and I know what my role is. What should be my role in the team? After playing for so many years, I know very well the basics, the ideas of my role. So, all I have to do is to do it every day by practicing, so, finally I stay in that tournament.”

Vival’s partner Vivi “Vivian” Indrawaty echoed this idea. Speaking to Esports Insider, the “Mother of Tanks,” as she’s known in the MLBB esports community, talked about her journey to find an in-game role that best fits her knowledge and skills. This led to Vivian switching from a Jungler to a Roamer role.

While it can take months to build rapport and trust in a sports lineup, Team Vitality already has a tight-knit duo at the start of the team. Cinny shared with Esports Insider how competing with her older sister Chel helped her start her esports journey.

“I feel that my sister and I have the same love,” Cinny explained. “So, we just wanted to go into tech together. Like in the beginning, I didn’t know everybody, right? And having my sister is like having someone to trust. So, I think that’s how it started.”

In a sports industry dominated by men, seeing one of the most accomplished teams in history is overwhelming Women’s the list is inspiring in itself. Esports still lacks diverse gender representation in its major leagues.

Therefore, the ever-growing small number of female role models in the field play an important role in empowering girls and other women in their sporting aspirations.

As revealed by Team Vitality’s Venny “Fumi” Limthis applies to in-game representations, too: “Yes, I consider myself a role model for female players out there. Especially, [because] I’m an EXP laner, and I realize that my role – I don’t think many female players want to play my role because […] there is a heroic element. Warriors are a formidable species…

“The point is, not many female players, female Mobile Legends players, want to play my role. And I see myself as an example of that. Those female players out there who want to play as an EXP laner can look up to me.”

MWI’s rising viewership numbers show that women’s MLBB esports is on the rise. But when asked about his local opinion, Vival asserted that not all regions are developing in the same way.

“In the future, I really hope that MOONTON itself wants to continue to improve the status of women around the world. But I will highlight my country, because the renewal and status of women in our country, Indonesia, has declined in recent years,” the MWI 2026 MVP told Esports Insider. “It’s not so bright compared to the early years of COVID. That’s where it started. And yes, I really hope that MOONTON itself can realize this and find ways to improve the ecosystem.

“What I see when I compare to other countries – I see that some countries, still have active women’s championships outside of EWC. I think that’s what makes the revival outside our country even better. As at this year’s EWC, we saw a number of women’s teams from other developed countries. And dark horses are appearing at this year’s MWI. […] That is my hope for the future of the women of Mobile Legends [esports].”