European mobile esports organiser SURGE and data infrastructure provider Runestone announced a strategic year-long partnership aimed at professionalising the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) ecosystem across the EMEA region.

As part of the agreement, Runestone’s data infrastructure will be integrated into the entirety of SURGE’s 2026 roadmap, providing the low-latency delivery and integrity monitoring required for top-tier competition.

To further incentivise competition among elite organisations such as Team Spirit, Team Falcons, and FUT Esports, SURGE has confirmed that, through the collaboration with Runestone, it will nearly double the prize pool of its tournaments. An additional €15,000 has been committed, bringing the total seasonal prize pool to €33,000.

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“Together with Runestone, we have a unique opportunity to dive deeper into the world of data and create an even more engaging experience for our audience. Our goal is not only to strengthen engagement but also to bring new players and fans into the growing mobile esports scene across the European market, and this partnership marks an exciting milestone for us” said SURGE Co-founder Ondrej Bobula.

The infrastructure will support a four-tier competitive circuit consisting of the SURGE Pro League, the SURGE Nations League, the SURGE Valkyrie Clash—an inclusive tournament serving as a qualifier for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026—and the MLBB European Championship (MEC). The MEC remains the most critical event in the portfolio, as it offers participating teams a direct wildcard slot for the EWC.

The partnership comes at a time of significant growth for the mobile title, which has surpassed 1.5 billion installations globally, with its M7 World Championship recently drawing a peak viewership of over 5.6 million concurrent users.

“What excites us about this partnership is that SURGE has been dedicated to the growth of MLBB in Europe and MOONTON has recognised those efforts with a direct pathway to MSC [MLBB Mid Season Cup]”, said Michael Schwartz, Head of Partnerships at Runestone. “Being able to integrate our data infrastructure across SURGE’s entire circuit will help deliver a top-tier experience for the audience and provide the integrity monitoring that this growth demands.”

The deal also marks another significant expansion for Runestone, which has rapidly become a dominant fixture in the esports data landscape. The provider recently was named the data partner for the Counter-Strike 2 StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 and secured a long-term partnership with PGL through 2029. Furthermore, Runestone’s influence extends into industry-wide governance as the title partner of the Global Esports Industry Week 2026.

By anchoring SURGE’s mobile portfolio, Runestone is positioning itself as the foundational layer for both PC and mobile competitive gaming in Europe.

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