KUALA LUMPUR: The quest to advance to the Challenge Finals of the Snapdragon Pro Series begins tomorrow (Dec 6) as 16 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) teams compete for six spots in the final phase of the competition.
The online tournament, now in its sixth season, has reached the Challenge Season phase and includes two Malaysian teams aiming to join Selangor Red Giants (SRG), who earned a direct invite to the Challenge Finals after winning Season 13 of the MLBB Professional League Malaysia (MPLMY) last year.
Homebois and Todak will carry the nation's hopes of seeing three Malaysian teams in the finals, scheduled at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre on Feb 10-16.
However, both teams are in tough groups.
Homebois are in Group C with M6 World Championship runners-up Team Liquid Indonesia (TLID), Evos Holy and Cambodia's Team Flash KH.
Todak, meanwhile, are in Group D alongside MPL Philippines Season 14 runners-up Aurora, Indonesia's Bigetron Alpha and Myanmar's AI eSports.
Homebois will debut two new players, Ilman Zareef "Gojes" Zulkifli and Jomearie Delos "Escalera" Santos.
Analyst Syed Fitri Abharshah "Sunfrost" Syed Nisranshah noted the difficulty of building team chemistry in a short time.
"It is tough for newly formed rosters to upset established ones, so it would not be surprising if Homebois struggle against TLID and Team Flash KH," said Fitri on the Kohai Sembang podcast.
"Building chemistry takes time, especially with Escalera, who hos never played for a Malaysian team."
Putra Ammar Qayyim "Mars" Zulaadi hopes for an upset in Group C.
"I hope Team Flash KH can pull off a miracle. Sometimes, teams from Cambodia manage big upsets," said the analyst and commentator.
"If that happens, I hope Homebois can capitalise and at least take second place."
He added: "I believe Todak can win against Bigetron Alpha.
"Aurora would probably win Group D, but I believe Todak can still get second place."
The 16 teams are divided into four groups.
The group winners will progress to the Challenge Finals, while the second-place teams will compete in the Last Chance Qualifiers to determine the final two qualifiers.