Blacklist silences RRQ Hoshi to clinch upper bracket finals berth in M4 World Championship

JAKARTA — Blacklist International took down RRQ Hoshi in front of its home crowd, 3-2, in a thrilling best-of-five upper bracket semifinals clash in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M4 World Championship on Wednesday at the Tennis Indoor Stadium Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia. 

With the win, Blacklist clinched an upper bracket finals berth and moved a win away from a finals seat. RRQ Hoshi, on the other hand, dropped to lower bracket and will face Falcon Esports of Myanmar. 

Albert "Alberttt" Iskandar and Rivaldi "R7" Fatah joined forces for RRQ in Game One, with R7's Joy doing the most damage with six kills and eight assists against four deaths as they finished off Blacklist in 20 minutes and 37 seconds. 

But the Codebreakers were quick to make adjustments in Game Two as it opted to ban Joy while drafting the very same hero pool it had in the opening game.

Without Joy, Blacklist needed just 12 minutes to even out the series.

Kiel “Oheb” Soriano claimed the MVP plum in that game with Brody as the Indonesians were not able to deal any damage on Blacklist’s turrets. 

Blacklist, which is seeking to deliver the country's third straight world title and the team's second in as many editions, did its usual thing in Game 3 with Danerie James "Wise" Del Rosario taking over the jungle as they took a commanding 2-1 lead in the series with the veteran jungler securing the MVP honors.

He unleashed eight of Blacklist's 26 kills alongside 13 assists against one death.

But RRQ Hoshi, helmed by Filipino coach Michael Angelo "Arcadia" Bocado, stole Game Four after a strong early game advantage. RRQ dealt more damage to Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna's comfort pick Estes as they carried the momentum all the way to a 15-10 victory. 

It was another nail-biter in Game 5 but Blacklist made sure it went its way as the Filipinos completed the win.

Blacklist will next face the winner of compatriot Echo and another Indonesian champion in Onic Esports.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News