Blacklist International is the new patron saint of manifesting after M3 world championship conquest

Back in January, Blacklist International set goals for itself this 2021: conquering the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines Season 7 and Season 8, and then capping the year with the M3 World Championship title.

Manifesting, but taken to a whole new level—the checklist was posted on their Facebook page the day after Bren Esports crawled out of the lower bracket to capture the M2 crown for the Philippines.

Four months later, Blacklist ticked the first item on their list. The squad bannered by the duo of Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna and Danerie "Wise" Rosario survived a grueling seven-game series against Execration to take the MPL Philippines Season 7 crown.

The team competed in the MLBB Southeast Asia Cup after the season, but they looked vulnerable after Execration extracted revenge in the all-Filipino grand finals.

In Season 8, Blacklist added more firepower by welcoming Salic "HADJI" Imam in their lineup. The team was the heavy favorite to repeat as champion and they looked poised to do so after topping the regular season with only one loss.

They met Onic Philippines in the grand finals after dispatching old rival Omega Esports (formerly Execration) and defended their crown with a 4-1 gentleman's sweep

That's two out of three in their checklist.

Blacklist's aura of invincibility, however, took a hit in the MPL Invitational after they bowed down to Onic Esports of Indonesia in the finals. The loss came just over a month before they were headed to the M3 World Championship.

As they headed to compete in the world stage with Onic PH, the team carried the sting of that loss and started their campaign with a vengeance. They swept the group stage with a 3-0 slate to secure a slot in the upper bracket.

But Blacklist experienced another setback after suffering a 3-2 upset against BloodThirstyKings of North America in their playoff match. The team dropped to the lower bracket, where they faced Onic Esports right off the bat.

Blacklist had no intention of losing to the same team twice, as OhMyV33nus said. They sent the Indonesian powerhouse home with a 2-1 victory in the lower bracket.

From then on, Blacklist moved as a team with a mission. They swept Keyd Stars of Brazil, RRQ Hoshi of Indonesia, and EVOS SG of Singapore one after another, setting up a rematch with BTK in the lower bracket finals.

Blacklist would not be denied a second time and finished off BTK, 3-1, to arrange an all-Filipino grand finals against Onic PH.

With only one series left to win, Blacklist asserted their mastery over their compatriots with a 4-0 sweep to claim their third crown of the year.

Three out of three. Mission complete. Manifesting is real.

—MGP, GMA News