Disappointing news is coming from the Esports World Cup 2025 for Indian esports fans, as S8UL has been disqualified from the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) 2025 tournament for violating the competitive rules just a week before the start. Now their slot has been given to the second-ranked team in the NACT Spring 2025, Area 77.

S8UL Esports disqualified from MLBB MSC 2025

S8UL Esports MLBB roster, including players like FwydChickn, bestplayer1, Hoon, ZIA, and Shark, has been disqualified from the MLBB MSC 2025 at Esports World Cup 2025 for violating the competitive rules. According to Moonton Games, two players from S8UL Esports, JANG “Hoon” Seong-Hun and Michael “Mobazane” Cosgun, have violated the official rules of the MLBB Mid Season Cup by participating in another esports tournament for a different MOBA title, which goes against the event's regulations.

In an official announcement, the MSC 2025 committee said, “Jang "Hoon" Seong-Hun and Michael "Mobazane" Cosgun from Team S8UL, the representatives from North America, have been found in breach of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup official rules due to their decision to participate in an event associated with a competing Mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) title. As outlined in the MSC Penalty Index (Section 2, Penalty Index B), a penalty will be imposed if a "team member engages in any competitor games’ event/activity/livestream or other way to give the competitor games’ exposure. The competitor games are defined as Mobile MOBA game."

S8UL had the chance to replace players but chose to proceed with team disqualification

According to Moonton Games, they had given S8UL Esports a chance to replace Hoon and Mobazane, but S8UL elected to proceed, which led to their disqualification from the tournament.

MSC 2025 Committed added, “The MSC 2025 Committee had extended multiple opportunities for Team S8UL to reconsider Hoon and Mobazane’s participation in the competitor event—to preserve the team’s eligibility to compete in the tournament. Despite these efforts, Team S8UL elected to proceed. Therefore, in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the tournament and enforcing consistency with the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup official rules, Hoon and Mobazane have been disqualified, effective immediately."

Due to these suspensions, Team S8UL is no longer eligible to compete. The team is unable to meet the tournament’s minimum roster requirements and is not eligible for roster changes or force majeure, according to the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup official rules:

  • Section 3.1.1.: Each team must have “at least 5 players (“starter”) and 1 substitute player and 1 coach”.

  • Section 5.2.3.: “Teams’ player roster need to be the same as the team that qualified for MSC in MPL or local qualifications, unless there is a force majeure before the roster lock date that necessitates a change, such as a player’s sudden illness or an accident that prevents them from coming to host country.”

In accordance with the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup official rules, the slot will be awarded to Area 77, the runner-up of the NACT Spring 2025.”

8Bit Thug on S8UL’s disqualification from MLBB MSC 2025 at Esports World Cup 2025

Animesh “Thug” Agarwal showed his disappointment at S8UL’s disqualification from the tournament, saying, “We did everything in our control. Sorry to all of u. Will just put it here, it was NEVER S8UL's fault”.

“To all s8ul fans. June ends- so do our train of mishaps. There will be a lot people introspecting and making fun of what we did wrong. Can PUT A FOOT DOWN and say S8UL, ITS MANAGEMENT, AND THE ENTIRE STAFF, did nothing wrong and were not a part of any decision making that led to this. We will maintain complete silence on things as we are looking into our options,” he added.

The MLBB Mid Season Cup 2025 at the Esports World Cup 2025 is set to take place from 10 July to 2 August 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring 23 teams. S8UL’s slot has been given to the North American team Area 77.