Blacklist International falls to Nongshim RedForce in heartbreaking reverse sweep at HOK Invitational S3 semifinals
Photo from HOK Global Esports
Blacklist International falls to Nongshim RedForce in heartbreaking reverse sweep at HOK Invitational S3 semifinals
QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Blacklist International’s championship hopes were shattered in front of a home crowd as Korea’s Nongshim RedForce pulled off a stunning reverse sweep in the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 semifinals.
The Codebreakers looked dominant early, securing a commanding 3-0 series lead, but momentum swung in favor of Nongshim, who clawed their way back to force Ultimate Battle rules for the second consecutive match.
It was Nongshim meanwhile who have booted all Filipino teams out of the competition, following a huge win over Rough World Era in the group stage and eliminating Elevate in the quarterfinals.
Blacklist Takes Early Control
Blacklist International started strong, with Charles “Chazz” Esguerra leading the way in Game 1. The Filipino support racked up 16 assists and two kills with his Dyadia pick, helping Blacklist secure a narrow 23-minute victory.
In Game 2, Chammy Paul “Chammy1” Nazarrea delivered an exceptional performance with Sun Ce in the clash lane, notching two kills and six assists in a comfortable 14-minute win. He continued his stellar form in Game 3, this time on Dharma, securing three kills and eight assists while absorbing a significant portion of the damage.
Nongshim’s Comeback Begins
Just as Blacklist seemed poised for a sweep, Nongshim flipped the script in Game 4. The Koreans won a grueling 21-minute battle, forcing Blacklist into retreat after well-timed team fights. Lee “SIRI” Hoon-min’s Consort Yu led the charge with four kills and an assist, while Jo “Illusion” Seung-bin’s Lady Zhen contributed with a kill and three assists.
Nongshim maintained their momentum in Game 5, dictating the pace and punishing Blacklist’s missteps. With the series now at 3-2, the pressure mounted on the Filipino squad.
Ultimate Battle Decider
Under Ultimate Battle rules, where previously banned heroes were available in a blind draft, Han “Haku” Ji-hoon’s Augran proved to be the difference-maker.
The Korean jungler delivered a dominant eight-kill, three-assist performance, punishing Blacklist’s positioning errors to complete the reverse sweep and secure Nongshim’s spot in the Grand Finals.
What’s Next?
With the win, Nongshim RedForce advances to face Malaysia’s Nova Esports, who pulled off an upset against Team Vitality in the other semifinal matchup.
Blacklist International, despite the heartbreaking loss, will take home $25,000 in prize money, finishing in the Top 4 alongside Team Vitality.
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