The Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC 2025), the world championship for the popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, officially kicked off in the Philippines on November 14, 2025, and will run through November 30. The tournament brings together 16 elite teams from around the globe, competing for a share of a US$1 million prize pool. The event is a strategic showcase for the game’s publisher, Level Infinite (Tencent), which is ambitiously working to expand the title’s ecosystem globally after its decade of dominance in China.
The decision to host the event offline in Manila marks a significant moment for the growing Southeast Asian esports community and highlights the region’s increasing momentum in mobile gaming. The tournament is explicitly focused on breaking past audience highs. Organizers are leveraging the region’s massive, passionate mobile gaming fan base, with the hope that the event will surpass the 391,000 peak concurrent viewers recorded during last year’s global championships. The event is set across two main venues in Manila: the Shooting Gallery Studios and the Ayala Malls Circuit Makati Activity Center.The KIC 2025 is designed as a true test of how far the non-Western mobile MOBA scene has advanced, featuring top contenders from Brazil, Indonesia, and other emerging regions. The tournament will not only determine the world champion but will also serve as a crucial launchpad, with the top three teams automatically qualifying for the Challenger Cup 2025 in December. This focus on title diversity and geographic expansion is vital for the continued commercial maturity of the global esports industry.
, the world championship for the popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, officially kicked off in the Philippines on November 14, 2025, and will run through November 30.){kind=link}