In a shocking development ahead of the highly anticipated Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 in Riyadh, Indian powerhouse S8UL Esports has been officially disqualified from the tournament. The decision by the MSC 2025 Committee comes after two of S8UL’s key players, Jang “HOON” Seong-hun and Michael “MOBAZANE” Cosgun breached the event’s strict competitive rules.
Why Was S8UL Disqualified from MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 Riyadh
The controversy centers on HOON and MOBAZANE’s participation in an event associated with a competing mobile MOBA title. The MSC Penalty Index (Section 2, Penalty Index B) strictly prohibits players from engaging in any activities, such as tournaments, livestreams, or promotional events, that provide exposure to rival games. Despite multiple warnings and opportunities from the tournament organizers to reconsider, S8UL chose to proceed with their players’ involvement in the event, triggering an automatic disqualification for both athletes and, by extension, the entire team.
This violation left S8UL unable to meet the tournament’s minimum roster requirements, as outlined in the MSC Official Rules, which mandate at least five starting players, one substitute, and one coach. The rules also stipulate that roster changes are only permitted under force majeure conditions, such as illness or accidents, none of which applied in this case.
As a direct consequence, Area 77, the runner-up from the North America Challenger Tournament (NACT) Spring 2025, will take over S8UL’s slot and will now represent North America on the global stage at MSC 2025. The tournament, set to take place from July 10 to August 2 in Riyadh, features 23 elite teams from around the world competing for a massive $3 million prize pool as part of the Esports World Cup 2025.
The MSC Committee emphasized its commitment to upholding the integrity and standards of professional esports, serving a clear reminder to all teams about the importance of adhering to tournament regulations. While S8UL’s management has expressed disappointment and maintained that the organization itself was not at fault, the decision stands as a significant moment in the ongoing evolution of esports governance.
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