RRI.VOI.CO, Jakarta – Vice Minister for Creative Economy Irene Umar praised the Grand Final of the M7 World Championship 2026 for highlighting Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage while reinforcing the national esports ecosystem. She delivered the remarks while attending the Grand Final at Tennis Indoor Senayan, Jakarta, on Sunday (25/01/2026).

“The gaming and esports industry is a real industry—growing alongside its community—and today we are proud to see Indonesian teams shine on the world stage,” Irene Umar said, as quoted from an official statement.

The international Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament featured a showdown between Indonesia’s home team Alter Ego and the Philippines’ Aurora. According to Irene, Alter Ego’s presence in the final underscores the strength of Indonesia’s esports ecosystem.

“For me, Alter Ego is already a winner. Their appearance in the final and the extraordinary enthusiasm of their fanbase show that Indonesia’s esports ecosystem is strong, has sustainable potential, and can become a new engine of growth for the creative economy,” she added.

Beyond the main match, the M7 Carnival showcased various local creative economy subsectors, including culinary offerings, music, and creative products—curated to deliver a comprehensive experience for visitors. The festival also featured an official Mobile Legends pop-up store, interactive zones, and a wide range of Indonesian MSMEs.

Meanwhile, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, President of the International Esports Federation (IESF), noted that since the competition began, MLBB has become one of the world’s largest and most influential games. “This is all about capability, collaboration with communities that foster pride, and the development of a sustainable ecosystem for players, clubs, content creators, and fans,” he said.

Watched by more than five million online viewers and thousands of spectators in the arena, the event underscored the public’s strong enthusiasm and Indonesia’s vibrant gaming and esports culture.

The M7 World Championship 2026 demonstrates Indonesia’s ability to leverage world-class esports events to drive the creative economy, strengthen global competitiveness, support the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, and reaffirm gaming and esports as strategic subsectors of the creative economy.