S8UL Esports MLBB team banned from Esports World Cup after player rule breaches

Indian organisation S8UL Esports had its North America-based Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team penalised ahead of the Mid Season Cup (MSC) 2025 after two of its players were found to have breached official rules. The organisation will now be unable to play event, set to be held at the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The MSC 2025 Committee announced that Michael “MobaZane” Cosgun and Jang “Hoon” Seong-hun were found in breach of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang MSC official rules “due to their decision to participate in an event associated with a competing Mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) title.” Their actions fall under Section 2, Penalty Index B, which penalises team members who participate in events or activities that promote competitor games.

The game in question was Honor of Kings, with the two players partaking in an event in June.

Despite multiple opportunities extended by the MSC 2025 Committee 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,” the team elected to proceed with them. The committee stated that “in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the tournament and enforcing consistency,” both players have been disqualified, effective immediately.

As a result, Team S8UL is no longer eligible to compete. The team cannot meet the tournament’s minimum roster requirements and is not eligible for roster changes or force majeure, per the official rules.

Section 3.1.1. of the rules states that each team must have “at least 5 players (‘starter’) and 1 substitute player and 1 coach.” Meanwhile, Section 5.2.3. confirms that rosters must match those from MPL or local qualifications, unless a valid force majeure — such as illness or an accident — occurs before the roster lock date.

In accordance with official rules, S8UL’s MSC 2025 slot will be awarded to Area 77, the runner-up of the NACT Spring 2025. S8UL had signed the roster with MobaZane and Hoon this year, just after the team secured its qualification for the EWC under the BloodThirstyKings tag.