PKL Spring 2025 Midseason Check-In: Progress, Gaps, and Promising Signs

PKL Spring 2025 Midseason Check-In: Progress, Gaps, and Promising Signs

The Philippine Kings League (PKL) 2025 Spring season is off to a good start. After just three weeks of action, the country’s first official Honor of Kings league has already delivered 28 matches across nine days—setting the tone for what could be a defining year for the title in the country.

Launched shortly after the success of the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 in Quezon City, PKL arrived with high expectations. The international tournament helped build momentum locally, proving that Filipino teams could compete on a global stage despite the game’s recent entry into the market. With the domestic league now in full swing, the scene finally has a structured platform for growth—and it’s showing early promise.

Blacklist on top, others chase

Blacklist International has emerged as the early frontrunner, running a perfect 7-0 record with zero games dropped. Led by veterans from Wild Rift League Asia, the Codebreakers have translated their international form into domestic dominance, quickly distancing themselves from the rest of the league.

Elevate, BOOM Esports, and RWE Kadiliman complete the top four, battling for what looks like the second upper bracket slot as Blacklist inches closer to locking down the first.

Meanwhile, the rest of the field is struggling to find their rhythm. Eureka is starting to click, but ACT, Team Flash PH, and TNT Tropang Alab are all on multi-game losing streaks. With just three weeks left before playoffs, teams are running out of time to turn things around—especially with three slots to the upcoming Esports World Cup on the line.

So far, there’s been a noticeable gap between the top and bottom halves of the table. Most of the lower-tier squads have yet to pose a real challenge, leading to several one-sided games. But for many, this is their first taste of a full-fledged league experience—making every week a chance to improve and adapt.

Broadcast finds its footing

The broadcast team was tasked with bringing PKL to life—and overall, they’ve done a solid job. They’ve carried over key presentation elements from the Invitational S3, including a gold lead graph that helps viewers track momentum shifts in each game.

The show setup is reminiscent of MPL Philippines Season 7, with Mara anchoring the pre-show alongside two casters. Post-match interviews with winning players have also added flavor to the broadcast.

There’s room to refine the experience further—particularly in live match overlays. For example, real-time KDA stats could help casual or new viewers better understand who’s making the biggest impact during the game.

Growing viewership and fan interest

PKL’s audience is starting to grow. Based on data from Esports Charts, the league has hit nearly 49,000 peak concurrent viewers—most of them tuning in via Facebook—and averages around 3,000 viewers per minute. That puts it on par with the Kings League Major East and West in terms of average viewership, both of which just wrapped their biggest matches of the season.

This shows that PKL has the potential to be among the top Honor of Kings leagues globally. But it needs continued support from the community. Cheering for your favorite teams and players—even outside of match days—helps build a culture that can sustain the league in the long term.

Fan culture is crucial. With multiple esports leagues kicking off this month and their major competitor on break until the end of May, now is the perfect moment for PKL to carve out its identity and build a strong, engaged following.

Looking ahead

To sum it up: PKL Spring 2025 is off to a promising start. With strong performances from early contenders, growing fan support, and room to polish the broadcast and league operations, the foundation is there. If the league can maintain momentum and tighten its competitive balance, it may soon become a flagship title for Filipino esports.

All eyes now turn to the next three weeks—where every match, every rotation, and every team adjustment could shape the race to the Esports World Cup and beyond.