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Tag: Honor of Kings

  • Philippine squads bow out early in KWC 2026 as they fall short of playoff push 

    Philippine squads bow out early in KWC 2026 as they fall short of playoff push 

    The Philippines’ campaign at the Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) 2026 came to an early conclusion after all three country’s representatives failed to secure a spot in the knockout stage.


    Despite entering the tournament with high expectations, Blacklist International, Boom Esports, and Titan Esports Club struggled to overcome the world’s best Honor of Kings teams, ending their title hopes during the group stage.

     

    Among the three representatives, Blacklist International delivered the deepest run and carried the country’s final hopes the longest.

     

    Seeded in Group A, Blacklist started its main stage campaign on a strong note, sweeping Brazilian squad MIBR.LOS, 2-0, to secure a spot in the upper bracket. 

     

    However, the road became tougher as the Filipinos faced defending world champion AG.AL, which handed Blacklist a 0-2 loss and forced them into the lower bracket.

     

    With elimination looming, Blacklist fought to keep its tournament alive against Team Vitality in the lower bracket final. The Filipino squad pushed the series to a deciding game but could not complete the comeback, falling 1-2 and ending the country’s last remaining chance of reaching the playoffs.

     

    Blacklist’s exit marked the end of the longest KWC 2026 run among Philippine representatives, but it also highlighted the team’s resilience after entering the tournament through the play-in stage and recording the country’s best performance heading into the event.

     

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    Meanwhile, Titan Esports Club encountered early trouble in Group B after suffering consecutive defeats against Malaysia’s Aurora Gaming and Brazil’s Influence Rage. The back-to-back losses immediately ended Titan’s bid for a playoff spot.

     

    Boom Esports, the defending Philippine Kings League (PKL) Spring 2026 champions, also faced a difficult path after dropping its opening matchup against Indonesia’s Team Nemesis in Group D.

     

    The Filipino squad managed to extend its campaign after defeating Taiwan’s Deep Cross Gaming in the lower bracket, keeping their hopes alive for a redemption run. However, Boom could not overcome Team Nemesis in their rematch for the group’s final playoff slot, ending their international campaign.

     

    With all three Philippine teams eliminated, the remaining international contenders now move into the KWC 2026 quarterfinals, battling for spots in the semifinals and a chance to claim the world championship.

     

    The early exits continue a challenging stretch for Philippine teams in the Honor of Kings World Cup. Last year, Boom Esports was the only Filipino representative to survive its opening elimination match before eventually finishing in the lower half of the standings.

     

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  • Team Philippines expands Esports Nations Cup roster with Honor of Kings, Dota 2 qualification 

    Team Philippines expands Esports Nations Cup roster with Honor of Kings, Dota 2 qualification 

    The Philippine flag will be flying across even more titles at the 2026 Esports Nations Cup.

     

    After already securing spots in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, VALORANT, and League of Legends, Team Philippines further strengthened its presence in the global event by qualifying in both Honor of Kings and Dota 2, giving the country representation in five major esports disciplines when the tournament opens in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this November.

     

    The latest additions highlight the country’s growing depth across multiple competitive titles—not just in its traditional strongholds but in games where the Philippines continues to establish itself among Asia’s elite.

     

    Unlike the country’s Dota 2 and League of Legends squads that battled through regional qualifiers, the Honor of Kings national team punched its ticket through consistent performances during the qualification period.

     

    The Philippines accumulated 6,495 ranking points to finish third overall, comfortably earning a place in Riyadh.

     

    Leading the squad are Blacklist International stars Chammy “Chammy1” Nazarrea, Justine “Juschie” Tan, and Charles “Chazz” Esguerra.

     

    Joining them are Eleazar “Azar” Sall of TNT Tropang Alab and BOOM Esports teammates John “Daniii” Bulanadi and Heri “Tatsurii” Garcia.

     

    Blacklist International’s Gerald “Tgee” Gelacio will call the shots as head coach.

    Their qualification further reinforces the Philippines’ reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s emerging Honor of Kings powerhouses.

     

    If the Honor of Kings squad qualified through consistency, the Dota 2 team earned its place by surviving one of the region’s toughest qualifying brackets.

     

    Facing a Thailand lineup headlined by international star Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahananon, Team Philippines showcased its resilience in a thrilling three-game upper bracket final.

     

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    After claiming Game 1 behind Eljohn “Akashi” Andales’ dominant Terrorblade performance, the Filipinos were thoroughly outplayed in Game 2, managing just three kills in a one-sided defeat that forced a deciding match.

     

    Instead of folding, the national team delivered its strongest game of the qualifier.

     

    Mark “Shanks” Redira orchestrated the victory on Rubick, producing game-changing plays throughout the decisive contest as the Philippines overwhelmed Thailand, 36-13, in nearly 42 minutes to officially secure qualification.

     

    The team had earlier overcome Myanmar in another hard-fought three-game series to reach the winner-take-all showdown.

     

    Representing the Philippines in Dota 2 are Shanks, Akashi, Mc “Mac” Villanueva, Glenard “Rupido” Rugay, and Bryle “cml” Alvizo.

     

    The national pool also includes veteran stars Abed “Abed” Yusop and Polo “Raven” Fausto, who were unavailable during the qualifiers because of commitments with their respective professional organizations.

     

    With the latest additions, Team Philippines continues to assemble one of its most ambitious international esports delegations yet.

     

    The country’s representatives in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and VALORANT previously secured direct qualification, while its League of Legends squad topped the Southeast Asia and Oceania qualifiers.

     

    Now joined by Honor of Kings and Dota 2, the Philippines heads to Riyadh carrying expectations across five different titles, reflecting the country’s continued rise as one of the region’s premier esports nations.

     

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  • PESO turns focus to Nagoya as SIBOL secures six Asian Games berths 

    PESO turns focus to Nagoya as SIBOL secures six Asian Games berths 

    SIBOL, Philippine national esports team emerged with six coveted berths for Nagoya, Japan, giving the country entries in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honor of Kings, Naraka: Bladepoint, Puyo Puyo Champions, Pokémon UNITE, and Identity V.


    The lone setback came in PUBG Mobile, where the Philippine squad came agonizingly close to completing a perfect qualification campaign. Competing in Vietnam, SIBOL missed the final qualifying spot by just a single point after Jordan edged them out for the last berth.

     

    Despite falling one point short of a clean sweep, the overall campaign was widely viewed as a major success after the national team navigated qualifiers held simultaneously in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

     

    The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang squad led the way with an impressive 6-1 record to finish atop the qualifiers in Singapore and secure its place in Nagoya. Honor of Kings also punched its ticket after finishing among the successful qualifiers in Malaysia, while the country’s representatives in Naraka: Bladepoint, Puyo Puyo Champions, Pokémon UNITE, and Identity V likewise earned their respective Asian Games slots.

     

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    Behind the scenes, the Philippine Esports Organization (PESO) coordinated three separate national team delegations to support the simultaneous campaigns. Each contingent had its own head of delegation along with dedicated personnel tasked with overseeing the athletes’ needs throughout the qualification period.

     

    PESO Executive Director Marlon Marcelo credited the organization’s leadership for making the ambitious operation possible.

     

    “We were able to manage it naman with the support of our executives. May mga lumipad din na PESO executives to reinforce the campaigns ng ating mga SIBOL national teams,” Marcelo said.

     

    Managing multiple international campaigns presented its share of obstacles, particularly in travel and accommodations, but Marcelo said the federation successfully handled the challenges without significant disruptions.

     

    “Logistically, there were challenges with hotels and flights, but overall, everything went smoothly. We didn’t encounter any major incidents,” he said.

     

    Marcelo also acknowledged the collective effort behind the campaign, thanking everyone involved in coordinating the athletes’ travel, accommodations, and competition uniforms to ensure every team could focus on competing at the highest level.

     

    He likewise recognized the support extended by the Philippine Olympic Committee, the Philippine Sports Commission, along with PESO’s partners and sponsors, noting that their contributions played a vital role in helping SIBOL secure six qualifications for the 2026 Asian Games.

     

    With the qualification stage now complete, SIBOL is entering the next phase of its campaign. Instead of chasing slots, the national esports program will now focus on preparing its qualified teams for Nagoya, where the goal shifts from earning places in the tournament to competing for medals on the Asian Games stage.

     

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  • Honor of Kings’ fast growth in PH reaches new height as SIBOL HOK secures Asian Games spot 

    Honor of Kings’ fast growth in PH reaches new height as SIBOL HOK secures Asian Games spot 

    After officially booking their place in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, SIBOL’s Honor of Kings national team reached another milestone for Philippine esports after finishing second in the Asian Games Qualifiers.


    But beyond the qualification itself, the achievement highlighted how quickly Honor of Kings has grown in the Philippines since arriving in the country in 2024.

     

    What started as a newly introduced esport game has quickly developed into a competitive scene, with local teams gaining experience through domestic leagues and international tournaments.

     

    That progress was already visible on the global stage, where Philippine representatives Blacklist International and BOOM Esports both reached the semifinals of the HOK Invitational Season 4. Although they fell against Malaysian and Korean opponents, their deep runs proved that Filipino teams were already capable of challenging some of the region’s established powerhouses.

     

    The local scene has continued to strengthen as well. BOOM Esports recently captured the 2026 PKL Spring Season title, securing its second championship after also winning the inaugural Spring 2025 edition. Blacklist International, meanwhile, claimed its first PKL crown during the 2025 Fall Season.

     

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    For Honor of Kings Philippines Esports Manager Angelica Neri, the rapid development of the scene shows how quickly Filipino players have adapted and improved despite the game being relatively new in the country.

     

    “It shows how rapid we are in developing our players, our scene in terms of Honor of Kings. Basically, PKL (Philippines Kings League) is only three seasons and we’re already competing in the high level,” Neri said.

     

    That growth was reflected in SIBOL’s Asian Games Qualifiers campaign, where the Philippine squad posted a 3-1 record in Group A. The team, composed mostly of players from Blacklist International, showed that the country now has the talent pool to compete against top teams in the region.

     

    The upcoming Asian Games will also mark a historic moment for Honor of Kings, as it makes its debut as an official medal event in the continental competition.

     

    For Neri, the recent performances of Filipino teams show that the gap between the Philippines and Asia’s elite squads continues to shrink.

     

    “It’s a statement that shows how much the growth has been because when we are in other tournaments outside of Asian Games and SEA Games, it’s easy to see that we’re losing but when we go to much bigger, it’s clearly seen that we’re almost there,” Neri added.

     

    Now, the next challenge for SIBOL is turning progress into a podium finish. The national team enters the Asian Games with bigger ambitions, aiming not only to represent the country but to compete for a medal.

     

    The Philippines will be among 12 nations competing in Honor of Kings at the 2026 Asian Games, joining China, South Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Lao PDR, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam.

     

    With a six-man roster set to carry the country’s hopes in Nagoya, SIBOL’s campaign will serve as the biggest test yet of how far Honor of Kings has come in the Philippines. 

     

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  • SIBOL Honor of Kings secures Asian Games spot after perfect qualifiers run 

    SIBOL Honor of Kings secures Asian Games spot after perfect qualifiers run 

    The SIBOL Honor Of Kings national team officially punched its ticket to the Asian Games after completing a dominant run in the qualifiers at the Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel in Malaysia, capped by a 2-0 sweep of Uzbekistan that secured a flawless 3-0 record in Group A.


    The qualification came before the Filipinos’ final group-stage showdown against regional rival Indonesia, giving SIBOL a chance to finish the qualifiers on a high note while already looking ahead to the continental stage later this year.

     

    Head coach Gerald Gelacio welcomed the achievement but stressed that the team remains locked in despite already securing its place in Japan.

     

    “Actually, sobrang saya namin kasi pasok na tayo sa Main Event. Isang karangalan para sa amin ang ma-represent ang Pilipinas sa Asian Games. Of course, ‘yung approach namin going sa last match namin versus Team Indonesia is paghahandaan pa rin namin sila. May rivalry tayo versus them so papakita namin ang lakas ng Pinas,” Gelacio said.

     

    The match against Uzbekistan proved to be SIBOL’s toughest test of the qualifiers so far. Unlike their previous dominant performances, the Filipinos found themselves in an early battle as Uzbekistan took a 2-1 kill advantage in the opening minutes.

     

    SIBOL quickly flipped the momentum with six straight kills, highlighted by Chammy Paul Nazarrea’s aggressive plays in the top lane during the sixth minute. The turnaround allowed the Filipinos to take full control before Dragon Dajao delivered a crucial double strike midway through the 10th minute.

     

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    The Philippines closed Game 1 in style, producing a 5-for-0 Ace that ended Uzbekistan’s hopes of a comeback.

     

    Game 2 saw SIBOL make a roster adjustment as Jhon Mike Tungol entered the lineup for Dajao, and the debutant immediately made an impact. Tungol’s early kill helped ignite another strong start, pushing the Philippines to a 5-0 lead late in the fifth minute.

     

    The national team dismantled Uzbekistan’s defense and finished the second game with a commanding 12-0 kill scoreline, completing an eight-minute sweep.

     

    Roamer Charles Roman Cruz Esguerra played a major role in the victory, contributing two kills and 10 assists, while Tungol impressed in his first appearance with the national team by adding two kills and eight assists.

     

    The perfect record not only secured SIBOL’s Asian Games berth but also reinforced the Philippines’ growing presence in Honor of Kings esports.

     

    With their spot in Nagoya already guaranteed, the Filipinos now shift their focus to Indonesia — a familiar Southeast Asian rival and a potential preview of the battles waiting at the Asian Games stage.

     

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  • 2026 Esports World Cup set in Paris with Philippine esports squads competing in MLBB, Honor of Kings, and Tekken

    2026 Esports World Cup set in Paris with Philippine esports squads competing in MLBB, Honor of Kings, and Tekken

    The global esports landscape is set for a major shift as the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) moves beyond Saudi Arabia for the first time, choosing Paris, France as its new stage from July 6 to August 23.


    Long anchored in Riyadh, the tournament’s expansion signals a new chapter for one of the biggest events in competitive gaming, one that now brings its massive global audience to the heart of Europe.

     

    The announcement, made by the Esports Foundation on Wednesday, May 21, confirms Paris as the first international host city under EWC’s evolving rotation model, aimed at widening its global footprint.

     

    CEO Ralf Reichert emphasized that while the tournament’s roots remain tied to Riyadh, the move represents growth rather than replacement.

     

    “Riyadh is the home of EWC and one of the world’s leading hubs for esports, powered by an incredible community of fans and long-term ambition for the future of the sport; this year, we’re excited to bring EWC to Paris for its first edition outside Saudi Arabia,” he stated. 

     

    French officials also welcomed the development, with France President Emmanuel Macron expressing support for the landmark hosting on social media.

     

    “The EWC will be held in Paris! This is a first that honors us, thank you to Saudi Arabia for its trust. We are ready to organize the 2026 Esports World Cup,” President Macron wrote.

     

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    For the Philippines, the Paris edition opens another high-stakes international stage as several esports contingents prepare to carry the country’s flag across multiple titles.

     

    For Honor of Kings, Philippine representatives include BOOM Esports, Blacklist International, and Team Flash, all earning qualification through regional pathways.

     

    Star competitor Alexandre “AK” Laverez will once again shoulder national hopes in one of fighting games’ most competitive global brackets for Tekken.

     

    Meanwhile, in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, defending MSC champions Team Liquid Philippines are still chasing qualification, with their fate tied to the MPL Philippines Season 17 playoffs which begins on May 27.

     

    If successful, they will return to the world stage aiming to defend their reputation as one of Southeast Asia’s most dominant MLBB squads.

     

    The 2026 EWC is expected to bring together more than 2,000 professional players and 200 esports clubs from over 100 countries, competing across 24 game titles and 25 tournaments.

     

    With a staggering prize pool exceeding $75 million (around ₱4 billion), Paris is preparing to transform into a global esports hub and for Filipino competitors, another battlefield to prove themselves on the world stage.

     

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  • Kiel “Oheb” Soriano makes the leap from MLBB to Honor of Kings

    Kiel “Oheb” Soriano makes the leap from MLBB to Honor of Kings

    In a move that has electrified the Philippine esports community, Kiel “Oheb” Soriano, one of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang’s most decorated gold laners has officially embarked on a bold new chapter. 


    After years of competitive success in MLBB, the former champion is now stepping into the vibrant universe of Honor of Kings (HOK), marking a significant shift in both his personal journey and the broader esports landscape.

     

    Oheb’s transfer to Honor of Kings comes after months of speculation and an indefinite hiatus following his exit from Team Liquid PH. Throughout the Filipino gaming world, fans have eagerly awaited clues about his next move. 

     

    Those rumors have now been confirmed that the Filipino sniper has officially joined the HOK roster and will look to make his mark in Hero’s Gorge.

     

    What makes this transition even more captivating is the unexpected reunion it has sparked. Oheb’s arrival at Honor of Kings reunites him with familiar names from his Blacklist International days, including Johnmar “OhMyV33nus” Villaluna, Danerie “Wise” Del Rosario, and Renejay “RENEJAY” Barcarse.

     

    This gathering of seasoned talent has sparked a wave of nostalgia, and fans are buzzing with excitement over possible collaborations and rivalries within HOK’s expanding competitive scene.

     

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    His MLBB legacy is one of consistent excellence being a part of Blacklist International’s formidable “Main Five,” he helped secure back‑to‑back championships in Seasons 7 and 8, later adding a third title in Season 10. In the M3 World Championship, he reached the pinnacle of international acclaim, earning Finals MVP honors and etching his name into esports history.

     

    Oheb’s success continued under Team Liquid, where he joined forces with stars like Karl “KarlTzy” Nepomuceno and Alston “Sanji” Pabico, claiming championship glory in Seasons 15 and 16 and securing his first MSC trophy in 2025. 

     

    But after Team Liquid’s M7 World Championship run, he announced his resignation and opted to take a step back from competitive play.

     

    During his break, he stayed active in the scene, hinting at a possible return to professional play, including aspirations within the Philippine Kings League (PKL). 

     

    Oheb isn’t the first MLBB star to make the jump to Honor of Kings, his move follows fellow Filipino pros Tristan “Yawi” Cabrera, Renejay Barcase, and John Paul “H2WO” Salonga. 

     

    Their collective shifts underscore a growing trend in esports which is the blending of competitive ecosystems and the rise of Honor of Kings as a major destination for top talent seeking new arenas to dominate.

     

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