Nova Esports triumphs in Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3, HOK announces 2025 roadmap
Malaysia’s Nova Esports emerged as the champions of the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3. In a nail-biting grand final held live in Manila, the Malaysian powerhouse defeated Nongshim RedForce with a thrilling 4-3 victory to claim the championship and a hefty $100,000 grand prize from the tournament’s $300,000 prize pool.
Nova Esports’ road to victory
The path to the championship title was not an easy one for Nova Esports. They consistently demonstrated great skill and collaboration from the group stage up to the grand finals. In the group stage, they topped Group C and later delivered a stellar performance in the knockout stage, where they defeated several of the strongest teams in the competition.
Nova Esports maintained their consistent pace and defeated AG Global in their first encounter. The Malaysian powerhouse then triumphed over Team Vitality to qualify for the Grand Finals.
Nova’s triumph was prominently credited to their best player, Xuan, who won the FMVP with his outstanding gameplay. His aggressive approaches and clutch plays propelled Nova ahead of Nongshim RedForce in the Grand Finals.
Prize pool distribution
The Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3 had a $300,000 prize pool, distributed as follows:
- Nova Esports – $100,000
- Nongshim RedForce – $50,000
- Blacklist International – $25,000
- Team Vitality – $25,000
- Impunity – $15,000
- Elevate – $15,000
- Bigetron Sigma – $14,500
- All Gamers Global – $14,500
- Gen.G Esports – $10,000
- Alpha7 Esports – $10,000
- Kagendra – $10,000
- Rough World Era – $10,000
James Yang’s statement and Honor of Kings 2025 roadmap
Senior Director of Level Infinite Global Esports Centre, James Yang, congratulated Nova Esports on their victory and emphasised the game’s expanding esports scene.
Yang expressed, “Congratulations to Nova Esports on winning the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3. What a historic moment to showcase the excitement and growth of Honor of Kings esports.”
Yang also pledged $15 million into the Honor of Kings ecosystem, cementing its position as a top-tier global esports title. He unveiled an ambitious roadmap featuring three global tournaments, seven regional pro leagues, and grassroots competitions.
Honor of Kings’ vision for 2025
The roadmap for 2025 showcases a strategic approach that includes major global tournaments, professional regional leagues, and grassroots initiatives to nurture upcoming talent.
The announcement also introduced details about the Regional Professional Leagues. Six new regional leagues – PKL, MKL, IKL, WKS, KME, and KMW – will join the existing leagues, KPL (King Pro League, Honor of Kings Professional League in China) and CHOKBR (Honor of Kings Brazil Championship).
Three major global tournaments in 2025
Honor of Kings will host three flagship global tournaments, bringing together top-tier teams worldwide. These tournaments will offer substantial prize pools and provide global recognition for the best teams in the scene.
Breakdown of Honor of Kings 2025 pro league
| League | Seasons | Participating Teams |
| Philippines Kings League (PKL) | Spring (April), Fall (August) | 8 teams (5 partnered, 3 open) |
| Malaysia Kings League (MKL) | Spring (April), Fall (August) | 8 teams (4 partnered, 4 open) |
| Indonesia Kings Laga (IKL) | Spring (April), Fall (August) | 10 teams (8 partnered, 2 open) |
| Wildcard Kings League (WKS) | Spring (April), Fall (August) | 8 teams (6 partnered, 2 open) |
| Major East League (KME) | Spring (April), Fall (August) | 7 teams (4 partnered, 3 open) |
| Major West League (KMW) | Spring (April), Fall (August) | 7 teams (4 partnered, 3 open) |
| Brazil Championship (CHOKBR) | Spring (May), Fall (September) | 8 teams (5 partnered, 3 open) |
Seven regional pro leagues
The 2025 Honor of Kings esports roadmap points to the launch of seven pro leagues across major regions, spanning vast territories. The two-season structure of these leagues ensures there is action throughout the year and provides teams with the time needed to build and compete at the highest level.
Grassroots tournaments: Open series & Campus series
Honor of Kings will also host the Open Series and Campus Series to ensure the continuous development of new talent, providing an opportunity for students and amateur players to enter the competitive scene.
With such an investment and framework, Honor of Kings is set to become one of the leading powers in mobile esports. The competitive environment aims to capture global talent, attract sponsor investment, and engage an increasing number of fans across the globe.
