Blacklist survives Echo in thriller, secures M4 Grand Finals ticket

JAKARTA — Blacklist International overcame a gutsy Echo, 3-2, in their all-Filipino upper bracket finals match in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M4 World Championship on Friday.

Blacklist is now a win away from defending the title it won after ruling the M3 edition against Onic Philippines.

Echo, meanwhile, dropped to the lower bracket where it will face either Onic Esports or RRQ Hoshi for a chance to fight Blacklist anew in the Grand Finals.

It was a different Echo in Game One, snowballing the reigning world champions en route to a lopsided 21-2 kill spread with EXP laner Edward "Edward" Dapadap registering the lone two kills for Blacklist.

Alston "Sanji" Pabico's Yve did the most damage against the Codebreakers, who got dominated in objectives after securing just two towers. Sanji had a perfect 6/0/8 KDA line to claim the MVP honors and put Echo ahead, 1-0.

Echo pulled off another surprise, picking Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna's signature hero Estes in Game Two dressed with the Blacklist M3 skin, but  Blacklist used it to its advantage to even out the series.

OhMyV33nus, using Diggie, had 13 assists to finish with a 1/1/13 KDA and as an MVP on 100 percent kill participation.

Echo then needed just 18 minutes and 38 seconds to frustrate Blacklist in Game Three and move to matchpoint with Benedict "Bennyqt" Gonzales showing the way with his comfort pick Karrie.

But Blacklist did just enough to drag Echo to Game Five as Salic "Hadji" Imam's Valentina took care of business with an 8/0/9 KDA.

Blacklist showed poise in the decider and finished off Echo in 12 minutes and 33 seconds, with a kill spread of 15-6.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News