Riyadh Awaits: Honor of Kings World Cup Starts July 15
The Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) 2025 is set to ignite the global esports stage from July 15 to July 26 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the Esports World Cup 2025. This year’s tournament brings together top-tier teams from around the world, all vying for a share of the $3,000,000 prize pool. In a first for the event, two powerhouse KPL teams—the Spring Season champion and the ACL champion—have also been invited, promising a thrilling mix of skill and strategy.
Tournament Format: Strategy Meets Excitement
Honor of Kings has introduced the Global Ban & Pick system in 2025, adding depth and unpredictability to every matchup. This strategic drafting format, already a hit in regional leagues, returns to the KWC to raise the competitive bar even higher.
From July 15 to 19, the Group Stage will see 16 teams divided into four groups of four, with matches played in a double-elimination, best-of-three (Bo3) format. The top team in each group advances directly to the Group Kings stage, while the second-place team enters the Last Chance stage.
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Group A features: Blacklist International, BOOM Esports, Gen.G Esports, and Paws Gaming.
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Group B includes: Alpha7 Esports, Dominator Esports, Loops, and Team Vitality.
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Group C brings together: Black Shrew Esports, Kagendra, Nova Esports, and Twisted Minds.
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Group D consists of: ACT Esports Club, Alpha Gaming, Nongshim Redforce, and OG Esports.
The Road to Finals
On July 20, the Last Chance stage will determine the final playoff spots. Group runners-up will face off in best-of-five (Bo5) matches—A2 vs B2 and C2 vs D2—with winners advancing to the Playoffs.
Simultaneously, the Group Kings stage will match group winners in two Bo3 series—A1 vs B1 and C1 vs D1. Victors from these matches will enter the Playoffs Pool 1, while the remaining two join Pool 2, alongside the Last Chance qualifiers.
The Playoffs will run from July 23 to 26, with eight elite teams competing in a single-elimination bracket. This stage will also include two directly qualified KPL teams: AG.AL and TT Global. The tournament culminates in the Grand Finals on July 26, featuring a best-of-seven (Bo7) series with the dramatic “Ultimate Battle” draft mode.
In-Game Events for Everyone
Alongside the competition, the KWC introduces its first-ever esports-themed Honor Pass, available from June 24 to August 28. Players can claim the Elite Pass for free and complete missions to level up and unlock exclusive rewards. At Level 1, players receive the Nuwa – Syzygy Moonlight skin, while Level 80 unlocks the Alessio KWC skin.
To further boost engagement, additional activities include team support voting and match prediction quizzes, allowing fans everywhere to feel part of the action.
