Twelve teams to compete in SM North EDSA for Honor of Kings Invitational S3 crown
Photo from HoK Global Esports
Twelve teams to compete in SM North EDSA for Honor of Kings Invitational S3 crown
QUEZON CITY – The Honor of Kings global esports scene is finally making its mark in the Philippines, as twelve elite teams from eight different countries prepare to battle for supremacy at the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3, kicking off on February 21.
A Global Clash in QC
Teams from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Brazil, Europe, the Middle East, and South Korea will face off at SM North EDSA’s Atrium, with the road to the Grand Finals set for March 1.
Hoping to defend home turf, Blacklist International, Elevate, and Rough World Era will represent the Philippines, aiming to secure the country’s first international HOK title.
Tournament Format and Group Stage Breakdown
HOK Invitational Season 3 have divided the twelve competing teams into four groups of three, placing the national champions from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Americas as top seeds.
- Group A: A high-stakes rematch is set, as Blacklist International and Elevate—who faced off in the Philippines Qualifiers grand finals—will battle again, joined by MENA representatives Gen.G Esports.
- Group B: HOK Invitational Season 1 runners-up Alpha7 Esports will take on tournament regulars All Gamers Global and Europe’s top contender, Team Vitality.
- Group C (The “Group of Death”): Malaysian powerhouse Nova Esports, Myanmar’s Impunity, and Indonesian giants Kagendra—all teams with experience in recent Honor of Kings Championships—will collide in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
- Group D: Filipino rising stars Rough World Era will go head-to-head with Indonesia’s Bigetron Sigma and South Korea’s Nongshim RedForce.
The group stage matches will take place over two days in a best-of-five series. Groups B and D will compete on February 21 while Groups A and C will battle on February 22.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, where the tournament will shift to a single-elimination format, with all matches played in a best-of-seven series.
New Global Ban-Pick System Introduced
For the first time in the tournament’s history, the global ban-pick system will be in effect throughout the entire event.
This means that once a team selects a hero, they cannot use the same hero again in the series, adding a layer of strategy and depth to team compositions.
However, if a playoff series reaches Game 7, the global ban-pick system will be lifted, switching to the Ultimate Battle rules:
- After Game 6, the losing team chooses their side.
- Both teams then have three minutes to finalize their draft.
- Once finalized, the head coach submits the lineup to the referee.
- The submitted lineup must be used, or penalties will apply. If a team fails to submit on time, they must use their previous lineup.
Massive Prize Pool Up for Grabs
A total prize pool of US$300,000 is at stake, ensuring that every team walks away with a minimum of US$10,000 just for participating.
The champion team will claim the lion’s share, taking home US$100,000.
How to Watch the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3
Fans can watch the tournament live at SM North EDSA’s The Block Atrium, where they can witness the action up close.
The official Honor of Kings esports channels will stream the matches on Facebook, Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube for those watching at home.
Additionally, players can look forward to exclusive in-game rewards, starting from February 21, to celebrate the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3.
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