Esports

Honor of Kings World Cup Begins Next Tuesday (15)

Don't miss out on the thrilling global battle at the $3 million Honor of Kings World Cup in Riyadh, featuring top teams from around the world, including Alpha7 Esports and Loops, utilizing the innovative Ban & Pick rule for a fresh twist on strategy!

Jonathan Dubinski 11 July 2025 · 2 min read

Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh - Global Ban-Pick Rule Awaits Thrilling Matches

The Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC), an international competition, will take place in Riyadh as part of the Esports World Cup 2025, which officially begins on June 15. The KWC features top teams from around the globe competing for the majority of a total prize pool valued at 3 million. For the first time in the tournament's history, two KPL teams have received invitations to the KWC. The 2025 edition includes the KPL Spring Season champion and ACL, alongside Brazilian teams Alpha7 Esports and Loops, promising action-packed matches. Tournament Structure and Schedule The global Ban-Pick rule, introduced to the competitive Honor of Kings scene in 2025, has already led to intense regional league battles, from last-game deciders to unexpected triumphs. This innovative format enhances action and adds a new layer of strategy to each match. Fans can anticipate even more thrilling games with the implementation of global Ban-Pick during the Honor of Kings World Cup.

The 2025 Honor of Kings World Cup will kick off with a group stage from July 15 to 19. Sixteen teams are divided into four groups of four, participating in double-elimination matches in a Best-of-3 (BO3) format. Winners of each group will advance to the next round, while second-place teams will compete for their last chance. Two formidable teams, AG.AL and TT Global, will bypass the group stage and advance directly to the playoffs. On July 20, teams that finished second in their groups will battle in a single Best-of-5 tournament, alongside the Kings Group matches and Last Chance games. Confirmed Group Stage Matchups: Group A: Blacklist International, BOOM Sports, Gen.G Esports, and Paws Gaming. Group B: Alpha7 Esports, Esports Dominator, Loops, and Team Vitality. Group C: Black Shrew Esports, Kagendra (a new esports team), and Twisted Minds. Group D: ACT Esports Club, AlphaGaming, Nongshim Redforce, and OG Esports. The Grand Final is scheduled for July 26, featuring a Best-of-7 match series played in Ultimate Battle mode. Honor Pass Details

Honor Pass for Honor of Kings World Cup: Missions and Rewards (June 24 - August 28)

An esports tournament-themed Honor Pass is available for gamers from June 24 through August 28. Players can complete missions and level up to unlock rewards such as the Nuwa Syzygy Moonlight skin at Level 1 and the Alessio KWC-exclusive skin at Level 80. The Honor Pass also offers additional engaging activities, including team support voting and match prediction quizzes.