The Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC) 2025 has officially moved from the Group Stage grind to the high-stakes, double-elimination Knockout Stage in Manila. With every match now a grueling Best-of-Seven (Bo7) series, only the most resilient, strategically flexible, and mentally tough teams will survive the path to the $1 million Grand Final on November 30th.
Here is the breakdown of the bracket that will decide the world champion.
💥 The Upper Bracket: Clashes of Titans
The eight remaining teams have been seeded into the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals, ensuring the top Group Stage performers have the crucial "second life" afforded by the double-elimination format.
The action starts immediately with four electrifying matchups on November 20th and 21st:
* Match 1: Alpha Gaming (APG) vs. Twisted Minds (TWIS). This cross-regional clash opens the Knockouts. APG, known for their aggressive, objective-focused play, will face the strategic depth of TWIS. The winner earns the right to face the victor of the AMA.NOVA vs. BTR series.
* Match 2: AMA.NOVA vs. Bigetron (BTR). Malaysia's AMA.NOVA, a tournament favorite after a dominant year, takes on Indonesia's BTR. While Nova is the predicted favorite, BTR has shown they can punish overextensions, setting the stage for a highly tactical Bo7.
* Match 3: Blacklist International (BLCK) vs. BOOM Esports. The Philippines Derby! Fresh off a thrilling seven-game Grand Final in the PKL Fall season where BLCK barely defeated BOOM, these two domestic powerhouses meet again.
This Bo7 is arguably the most anticipated match of the Quarterfinals, as local rivalry, pride, and a spot in the Upper Semifinals are on the line. Expect the crowd to be deafening.
* Match 4: HomeBois BSE (HBSE) vs. Vesakha Esports (VESA). The reigning Southeast Asian kings, HBSE, enter the bracket with immense pressure to perform. They face VESA, a team that has proven they can adapt quickly to the meta. HBSE's veteran presence and strong team fight coordination will be tested by VESA's potential for upsets.
📉 The Lower Bracket: The Road of No Return
A loss in the Upper Bracket sends a team straight to the unforgiving Lower Bracket Round 1. In the Lower Bracket, every series is an elimination game. There are no second chances left here, making every hero ban, every team fight, and every objective trade a moment of make-or-break tournament life.
The four losers from the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals will have to immediately fight to survive the tournament on November 22nd and 23rd, adding intense pressure to the early stage of the bracket.
🗓️ The Championship Path: Key Dates
The tournament's pace accelerates rapidly toward the final goal:
* November 20-21: Upper Bracket Quarterfinals
* November 22-23: Lower Bracket Round 1 (The first teams are eliminated)
* November 24-25: Upper Semifinals and Lower Quarterfinals
* November 27: Upper Bracket Final (Guarantees one team a spot in the Grand Final)
* November 29: Lower Bracket Final (The ultimate redemption arc or the final stop)
* November 30: THE KIC 2025 GRAND FINAL!
This double-elimination, Bo7 format ensures a champion that has survived the toughest tests of the global Honor of Kings circuit. The stakes have never been higher.
Which of the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals matchups are you most excited to see, and would you like a deep dive into that series?
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