Honor of Kings World Cup to kickstart on July 15

Honor of Kings World Cup to kickstart on July 15

RIYADH – The world’s top Honor of Kings teams will converge in Saudi Arabia this July 15 as the Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) officially kicks off.

With $3,000,000 USD on the line, 16 teams from across the globe will battle in a three-stage gauntlet, with playoffs culminating on July 26 at the Esports World Cup.

A New Era for Competitive HOK

This year’s KWC marks the first time two King Pro League (KPL) representatives will enter the fray. Both KPL sides AG.AL and TT Global will enter directly into the playoff bracket.

The tournament will also mark the return the Global Ban & Pick format. The said rule is a major 2025 change that has redefined drafting strategy and highlighted depth in regional metas.

From underdog runs to backdoor wins, the Global Ban&Pick format has elevated the strategic tension across all regional leagues—and will now define the global stage.

Group Stage: July 15–19

Sixteen teams will be divided into four groups. All groups will play through a double-elimination bracket, with all matches in Bo3 format.

Group A: Blacklist International (Philippines); BOOM Esports (Philippines); Gen.G Esports (MENA), and; Paws Gaming (Hong Kong)
Group B: Alpha7 Esports (Brazil); Dominator Esports (Indonesia); Loops (Brazil), and; Team Vitality (Indonesia)
Group C: Black Shrew Esports (Malaysia); Kagendra (Indonesia); Nova Esports (Malaysia), and; Twisted Minds (Italy)
Group D: ACT Esports Club (Philippines); Alpha Gaming (Malaysia); Nongshim Redforce (South Korea), and; OG Esports (Italy)

The group winners will move on to Group Kings, where they will face off to get the top seed. The runners-up meanwhile will match-up for the Last Chance for another shot at the playoffs.

Playoffs: July 23–26

Eight teams will advance to the single-elimination Playoffs, including the two KPL invitees and six teams from Group Kings and Last Chance rounds.

The tournament concludes with a Best-of-7 Grand Final on July 26. Should it reaches the seventh game, the Ultimate Battle will also be implemented to crown the Honor of Kings World Champion.

In-Game Events and Rewards

Running from June 24 to August 28, the KWC-themed Honor Pass rewards players for their support and engagement throughout the event.

At Level 1, players unlock the Nuwa – Syzygy Moonlight skin, while reaching Level 80 grants the exclusive Alessio KWC skin. Fans can also participate in team support votes, match predictions, and other themed activities via the in-game event hub.