The must-follow mobile events, what makes them special, and how to catch the action

Mobile esports aren’t the scrappy upstarts they once were — they’re a global, highly professionalized ecosystem with stadium finals, multi-million dollar prize pools, franchised leagues, and fandoms that rival traditional sports. If you play on a phone, enjoy watching tense 5v5 MOBAs or high-octane battle royales, or you’re building content around esports, there’s a stacked calendar of mobile tournaments worth following. This guide walks through the biggest, most exciting mobile esports tournaments to watch — why they matter, what to expect, and how to tune in.

Why mobile esports matter right now

A few reasons mobile esports are on everyone’s radar:

Accessibility and scale. Smartphones are everywhere; mobile titles naturally reach huge player bases across Asia, Latin America, South Asia and beyond. That translates into massive grassroots talent pipelines and enormous viewership numbers.
Diverse genres. Mobile esports include MOBAs (Mobile Legends, Honor of Kings, Wild Rift), battle royales (PUBG Mobile, Free Fire), shooters (Call of Duty Mobile), and smaller competitive titles (Clash Royale, Brawl Stars). There’s something for every spectator taste.
Bigger money, bigger stages. Prize pools and production values have surged. Franchised leagues and global finals now fill arenas with live crowds and professional broadcast teams. For many mobile titles, the World Championship is the season’s centerpiece. Evidence of the growth shows across prize lists and tournament frequency in 2024–25

How to use this guide

I’ll break the tournaments into categories: global world championships and marquee events; regional franchise leagues and national circuits to follow; and a short section on niche/genre-specific events. For each tournament I’ll cover: what it is, why it matters, what to watch for, and where to watch.

Global championships & marquee events

These are the “end-of-season” events or the premier international competitions that draw the best teams and the most eyes.

1. PUBG Mobile — PUBG Mobile Global Championship / World Cup (PMGC / PMWC)

What it is: PUBG Mobile’s top international tournament cycle culminates in events like the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) and large world-cup style Finals that gather dozens of top teams from regionals and qualifiers. Recent editions have featured prize pools in the multi-million dollar range and large global viewership.

Why it matters: PUBG Mobile remains one of the highest-paying mobile esports titles. Its battle royale format produces dramatic, last-man-standing finales and allows teams to showcase strategic rotations, drop-zone mastery, and late-game clutching. The large team counts and match variety make for long, content-rich broadcasts that are great for binge viewing.

What to watch for:

Team rotation and zone management in late-game circles.
Rising squad names from Southeast Asia and the Middle East — regions that often surprise.
Individual fraggers who can turn a match single-handedly.

Where to watch: Official PUBG Mobile channels, YouTube, Twitch, and tournament organizers’ stream portals. For detailed results and prize pool breakdowns, Liquipedia and major esports sites track standings and prize disbursements.

2. Free Fire — Free Fire World Series & Global Finals

What it is: Garena’s Free Fire has a global competitive structure culminating in the Free Fire World Series (FFWS) / Global Finals — one of mobile’s biggest marquee events. The World Series rotates host countries and gathers top regional champions. Recent editions have been staged in large arenas with substantial prize pools

Why it matters: Free Fire’s player base, particularly strong in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and India (via Free Fire MAX and regional reboots), translates to huge local viewership and passionate crowds. The game’s fast-clip pace and short match durations make it viewer-friendly and ideal for highlight reels.

What to watch for:

Region-based playstyle differences (Latin America tends to be aggressive; Southeast Asia blends aggression with tactical rotations).
Individual highlight-reel plays in clutch rounds.
How teams adapt from BR to special modes (Clash Squad, Rush).

Where to watch: Official Free Fire esports channels, YouTube, and platforms used by Garena for the event. Tournament pages (e.g., Liquipedia) show schedules, teams and prize info.

3. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang — M Series (World Championship) & Mid-Season Cups

What it is: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) runs a recognizable World Championship cycle (M1, M2… M5, M6, etc.), plus large mid-season events like the Mid-Season Cup. The world championship (M-series) brings national champions and invited teams to a single host city for weeks of intense competition. Past world championships have featured sizable prize pools, huge viewership, and stadium finals.

Why it matters: MLBB is one of mobile’s most polished esport ecosystems with a franchised pro scene in some regions, highly engaged fan communities (notably in Southeast Asia), and polished broadcast production. The M-series finals routinely draw millions of concurrent viewers and produce viral moments.

What to watch for:

Drafting strategies and hero metas — small hero changes can reshape team drafts.
Regional powerhouses (Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, China) and surprise runs from wildcard regions.
Atmosphere and fan culture in finals — MLBB fans bring big energy.

Where to watch: Official Mobile Legends channels, ONE Esports coverage, tournament websites, and major streaming platforms. Liquipedia/Wiki pages keep a history of M-series winners and prize pools.

4. Honor of Kings / Arena of Valor — World/International Events

What it is: Tencent’s Honor of Kings (and its international cousin Arena of Valor in some markets) organizes large international invitational cups and seasonal world events. Honor of Kings commands huge viewership and runs dozens of high-stakes tournaments across China and internationally

Why it matters: Honor of Kings leads mobile by prize pool and internal investment. It’s one of the most lucrative mobile esports scenes and has a dense domestic competitive calendar that produces polished, consistent talent.

What to watch for:

The Chinese pro ecosystem — it’s often the trendsetter for hero picks and macro strategies.
Invitational tournaments that test cross-regional matchups.

Where to watch: Official Honor of Kings channels, Tencent broadcasts, and esports sites covering Chinese mobile esports

5. League of Legends: Wild Rift — Icons / World Invitational

What it is: Wild Rift is Riot’s mobile take on League of Legends. Riot has staged international events such as the Icons Global Championship / Icons series and regional qualifiers culminating in bigger finals.

Why it matters: Riot brings its world-class esports infrastructure and broadcast polish to mobile. Wild Rift offers League-style macro gameplay, making it appealing to traditional MOBA fans and bridging PC-to-mobile viewership.

What to watch for:

Translation of PC League strategies to mobile — fast rotations and objective control remain central.
Emerging talent from regions that don’t have a deep PC LoL pool.

Where to watch: Riot’s official Wild Rift channels and tournament streams.

6. Call of Duty: Mobile — World Championships & Majors

What it is: Call of Duty: Mobile hosts seasonal majors and world championship events that gather top teams across regions. The game’s console/PC pedigree and tactical shooter mechanics translate well to mobile competition.

Why it matters: COD Mobile injects classic shooter sensibilities into mobile esports — tactical depth, map control, and sniper plays. Big tournaments often feature high production and recognizable brand partnerships.

Where to watch: Official COD Mobile esports channels and tournament organizer streams.

7. Brawl Stars / Clash Royale — World Finals & Leagues

What it is: Titles like Brawl Stars and Clash Royale (both from Supercell) maintain competitive leagues and annual World Finals that showcase mobile strategy and micro-skill. Although not always as giant in prize pool as the battle royales or top MOBAs, they have passionate communities and tight, viewer-friendly matches.

Why it matters: These titles emphasize short, explosive matches — perfect for content creators and highlight-driven viewing. Their global finals still draw strong engagement and bring in a different viewer profile (casual + competitive).

Where to watch: Supercell’s esports channels, YouTube, and Twitch.

Regional leagues & national circuits worth following

While global finals are the headline acts, regional leagues are where talent is forged and storylines develop. If you want to follow rising teams and early meta shifts, watch these:

1. MPL / Regional Pro Leagues (Mobile Legends Pro League, etc.)

MPL circuits in Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and other countries are the backbone of MLBB’s competitive ladder. These leagues are franchised or season-structured and feed into international events. Follow them for early meta trends and breakout players.

2. PUBG Mobile Pro Leagues and Regional Tours

PUBG Mobile’s regional pro leagues (PMPL) and national qualifiers produce the teams that go to PMGC. These are great for scouting talent and following teams’ long-term form.

3. Garena / Regional Free Fire Leagues & National Cups

Free Fire runs robust regional circuits: Latin American leagues, Southeast Asian leagues, Brazil’s domestic scene, and now India’s rebooted events (see Free Fire MAX India Cup and BGMI-era tournam

4. Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS) & National Events

India’s mobile scene — notably around PUBG Mobile’s rebrands and BGMI — has large domestic tournaments and a lively esports calendar. Sponsors like OnePlus have returned as title partners for BGMS in 2025, signaling ongoing investment and high production. These events are the best place to watch India’s top talent and franchised teams.

Niche / rising events to keep an eye on

These are either newer tournaments growing quickly or genre-specific finals that could surprise.

Mid-season Cups (MLBB / Honor of Kings): these are high-stakes, high-viewership events mid-year that sometimes carry prize pools similar to Worlds
Invitationals and publisher-run expos: Publishers regularly run invitational events that cross regional champions for cash and prestige. They’re useful for seeing experimental rules and new patches in action.

What makes a mobile tournament “must-watch”?

Not all tournaments are created equal. Here are the traits that push an event into the “don’t-miss” category:

Top-tier teams and international representation. World-class matchups and a wide geographic spread make storylines compelling.
High production value. Great casters, camera work, post-game analysis and viewer features (on-screen stats, multi-cam replays) make the viewing experience enjoyable.
Meaningful stakes. Big prize pools and qualification for future tournaments keep teams motivated and matches intense. Events like PMGC or MLBB Worlds clearly check this box
Meta shifts & patches. Tournaments that follow a recent patch are interesting because teams either adapt quickly or get punished for stale strategies.
Cultural moment. Some events become cultural moments (stadium finals with fans, viral plays) that attract casual viewers.

How to watch: platforms, timing and viewing tips

Platforms to follow

YouTube and Twitch. Most publishers stream on these platforms with multi-language commentary.
Official publisher channels. PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, MLBB, Riot for Wild Rift, Supercell for Clash/Brawl — these channels often host the main broadcast and VODs.
Third-party esports broadcasters. ONE Esports, Esports Insider, Liquipedia, and regional sports networks produce highlights, writeups and analysis.

Timing & schedules

Tournaments are global — expect timezone juggling. Major world finals are usually scheduled to accommodate the largest viewer regions (often afternoon/evening UTC). Follow official tournament pages for match times.

Viewing tips

Watch group stage days in blocks. Battle royale and long-match tournaments reward batch viewing since storylines evolve across matches.
Switch to highlight reels if you want fast entertainment — every major event publishes condensed highlights and “top plays” clips.
Follow social media for roster changes and meta commentary — Twitter/X, YouTube shorts, and regional pages are hotspots for quick updates.

What to look for as a fan or a creator

For fans

Underdog runs. Qualifier or wildcard teams that upset a powerhouse are story-rich.
Signature players. Keep an eye on superstar fraggers and MVP candidates — they’re often consistent content drivers.
Patch impacts. Notice how teams innovate around new hero/items or how the meta stabilizes after a patch.

For creators and analysts

Data points. Use per-match stats, pick/ban trends and heatmaps to craft deeper analysis or short explainers.
Local angle. Regional rivalries (e.g., Southeast Asia vs. China) and fan-culture content (chants, banners, stunts) make great visuals and social clips.
Predictive content. Pre-tournament power rankings, meta breakdowns and fantasy picks engage viewers leading up to events.

Case studies: recent editions worth revisiting

Below are a few recent examples (useful for context and to understand the modern tournament landscape).

PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2024: A multi-million dollar event with dozens of teams and lengthy match schedules. It showed the scale and investment behind mobile battle royale esports. For breakdowns and prize information, Liquipedia and tournament reporting provide full standings.
Free Fire World Series 2024 (Rio de Janeiro): A global finals held in Brazil with a $1,000,000 prize pool and 18 teams. The event highlighted Free Fire’s strong Latin American base and big arena-style production.
MLBB M5 / M6 World Championships: The M-series continues to be one of mobile’s most-watched championship cycles; the M5 finals in Manila were notable for their viewership and regional passion. Liquipedia and MLBB publications track these editions and outcomes
Honor of Kings growth in 2024–25: Honor of Kings has seen explosive tournament activity and significant prize pools across multiple invitational seasons — a reminder of how powerful China’s domestic market is for mobile esports.

The business side: sponsors, production and prize money

Mobile esports now attract serious commercial interest. Hardware manufacturers (phone brands), tech companies, beverage sponsors, and local telecoms often back tournaments. Big sponsors returning to events — like OnePlus’s title sponsorship of India’s BGMS in 2025 — signal healthy investment and long-term commercial viability in regional circuits.

Prize pools have also ballooned in some titles; major global finals frequently reach into the seven-figure range for total purse and tournament series across a year. Sites that aggregate esports earnings and prize histories help track which tournaments lead in payout

Forecast: what to expect in the next seasons

Even more professionalization. Expect improved broadcast UX, more analytics overlays, and franchising momentum in select regions.
Hybrid content strategies. Publishers will blend traditional streaming with short-form clips and mobile-native content (shorts, reels) to capture younger audiences.
Cross-region showdowns. As regions professionalize, cross-regional invitational events and mid-season cups will increase in prestige alongside Worlds.
New titles and spin-offs. Watch for new mobile-first titles to emerge or PC/console titles to produce mobile spin-offs that aggressively pursue esports ecosystems.

Final thoughts — where to start if you’re new

If you’re new to mobile esports and want to get hooked:

Pick one format first. Battle royales (PUBG Mobile / Free Fire) are action-packed and highlight-friendly. MOBAs (MLBB / Honor of Kings / Wild Rift) reward longer-term viewing and meta understanding.
Follow a regional league. You’ll learn players’ names and narratives faster in regional leagues than by jumping straight to Worlds.
Subscribe to highlight channels. Most publishers post condensed “best plays” and match recaps that are perfect to learn the meta quickly.
Join community spaces. Discord, Reddit, and regional social channels are where tournaments generate buzz and where you’ll find reliable viewing links and schedules.