Homebois BSE rise in Manila and place China’s top Honor of Kings titans in their sights

Kings Rise Beyond China

From the opening matches to the Grand Final on Nov 30, the narrative twisted and surged like a perfectly drawn Honor of Kings map. Emerging victorious was HomeBois BSE (HBSE), a partnership between HomeBois and Black Shrew Esport. The Malaysian powerhouse swept aside all challengers and ultimately dismantled NOVA Esports 4–0 in the final.

NOVA, despite falling in the upper-bracket final to HBSE, battled back through the lower bracket and edged out Alpha Gaming 4–2 for a spot in the Grand Final, only to fall short in the championship match without securing a single game win. Alpha Gaming secured third place, and with it the final Challenger Cup qualification slot from KIC.

HBSE’s top-laner, Wong “GuiYu” Yit Siang, earned Finals MVP honors, adding both a personal and national milestone to Malaysia’s esports story — an impressive feat for a player who joined HBSE only in August after competing with Dominator Esports.

A Global Tour From Riyadh to Manila

Just months earlier, at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, the world watched as AG.AL showcased their breathtaking skill with a gutsy reverse-sweep to defeat TT Global 4–3 and claim the Honor of Kings World Cup 2025 crown. That victory re-affirmed China’s dominance until late November, when the spotlight shifted to the rest of the world.

On Nov 14, 16 of the top non-Chinese squads entered KIC 2025 in Manila to compete for a $1 million prize pool and the opportunity to qualify for the next global milestone: Honor of Kings Challenger Cup 2025.

EWC Alumni In Action

For clubs that competed at EWC 2025, albeit under different banners and regions, KIC 2025 was both a proving ground and a harsh reality check. EWC’s Chinese finalists AG.AL and TT Global did not partake, leaving room for regional heavyweights to stake their claim.

Meanwhile, NOVA Esports, who had finished third at EWC 2025, advanced deep into KIC 2025 only to fall short at the final hurdle, showing once again how unforgiving the global stage can be.

HBSE, competing as just Black Shrew Esports, and Alpha Gaming, finished far from the podium in Riyadh. For both teams, KIC 2025 serves as a launchpad that gives them another chance to fight for gold at the highest level. Their top-three finish grants them entry into the upcoming Challenger Cup and a chance to prove they can hang with the best, including the Chinese giants, when the next world-class test arrives.

GuiYu, who earned Finals MVP honors in Manila, was also in Riyadh. Competing under the Dominator Esports banner, the top-laner finished 11th to 14th after falling to Team Vitality. KIC 2025 and the upcoming Challenger Cup now serve as both redemption and an opportunity for greater glory after falling short in the summer.

Road to EWC 2026

With KIC 2025 concluded, all eyes now shift to the 2025 Honor of Kings Challenger Cup, starting Dec. 6 in Shanghai. Thirty-two teams, including the top-three finishers from KIC and elite Chinese squads from the domestic leagues, will battle in a multi-track gauntlet for global bragging rights.

And beyond that, as the Esports World Cup expands its footprint, the next EWC set for 2026 will bring a broader mix of top-tier teams from every region. The battle for Honor of Kings control never stops.