The Ukrainian Mobile Legends: Bang Bang national team has advanced to the main event of the Esports Nations Cup. The team’s path to the main event was far from easy: after a rough start, the Ukrainians secured three consecutive victories and capped off the qualifiers with a 3–1 triumph over Poland.
The regional qualifiers took place August 14–16 and were held in a double-elimination format. A loss to the Kazakhstani national team early in the tournament sent Ukraine to the lower bracket, where every subsequent match became a must-win.
The Ukrainians began their comeback with a 2–0 victory over Greece. The team then defeated Kyrgyzstan without losing a single map and, in the lower bracket final, beat Poland 3–1.
This victory secured Ukraine’s spot in the Esports Nations Cup. The result was also confirmed by specialized sports media outlets and announced by the UESF.
The Ukrainian MLBB National Team Roster
The Ukrainian national team at the tournament was represented by players from three clubs. Three esports players—Serhiy “Pelmetronio” Lysogor, Vladyslav “GODBELIEVER” Grabchenko, and Anton “stonix” Dragnev—play for Boars Gaming and already have experience competing together.
Lysogor plays the role of gold laner. His best result is 1,032 Mythical Immortal stars, as well as several top-three finishes at Surge Europe. Grabchenko is the winner of MEK Season 1 and the silver medalist of the tournament’s second season.
Igor “Sensei” Khimyak from Minerva Fury took the mid-lane spot, while Igor “makar0n” Makarenko from White Army filled the jungler role. Khimyak has been playing MLBB since 2017; he previously represented Team Falcons, finished fourth in MCC Season 2, and placed 5th–8th at IESF 2024. Makarenko is also no stranger to representing Ukraine—he played for the national team at IESF WEC 2024.
The roster also included substitutes Kirill “Pankrattt” Shinkar and Daniil “RISE” Lizon. The team was led by coach Vitaliy “FreeStyle” Belinsky.
UESF on the National Team’s Participation in the Esports Nations Cup
The MLBB qualifiers marked the Ukrainian national team’s final step toward the Esports Nations Cup. The UESF served as the tournament’s official National Team Partner, forming the rosters of Ukrainian teams across nine disciplines and coordinating their participation in the qualifiers.
UESF CEO Andriy Gryshchenko called the Ukrainian national team’s advancement a significant achievement in the regional qualifiers. According to him, the team went through several intense matchups, and the decisive series was particularly intense.
“This is an important victory for the Ukrainian national team in the regional qualifiers. It was a journey filled with fierce battles and a thrilling grand final. I want to thank the team for all their hard work,” said Gryshchenko.
The Ukrainian Esports Federation (UESF) is a national organization dedicated to the development and regulation of esports in Ukraine. Under the leadership of President Maksym Krippa, the federation hosts national championships, represents Ukrainian esports on the international stage, and develops an ecosystem for players of all skill levels—from amateurs to professionals.
However, there is some disappointing news for esports fans: the ENC has been postponed until November 2027. The decision was made due to events in the Middle East and was reached following consultations with investors.