Evidence Emerges: Hoon's "Honor of Kings" Challenge Confirms MSC 2025 Disqualification Cause

Following yesterday's bombshell announcement of Team S8UL's disqualification from the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) and Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, new photographic and social media evidence has surfaced, seemingly confirming the precise nature of the rule violation that led to the drastic penalty.

As previously reported, the MSC 2025 Committee cited a breach of rules by S8UL members Jang "Hoon" Seong-Hun and Michael "Mobazane" Cosgun for their participation in an event related to a "competing mobile MOBA game." The newly available images and posts leave little doubt as to which game was involved: Honor of Kings (HoK).

The "Honor of Kings" Ranking Marathon and Pinoy Food Challenge

Video Credits: ZEkilled

Pictures circulating online show Hoon deeply engaged in an "Honor of Kings 48HRS Ranking Marathon," as advertised in promotional materials featuring him as "Challenger: Hoon" with a goal of "RANK CHALLENGE TO GLOBAL 1." One screenshot clearly shows Hoon streaming HoK, with the title "SOLO RANKING CHALLENGE HOK" and a live chat visible.

Adding another layer to the story, a social media post from influencer Mara Aquino dated June 28 at 5:17 PM (PST, likely), explicitly mentions Hoon "completing his HOK 48hr Ranking Marathon with the new Rating System" and provides a YouTube link to his livestream.

Furthermore, a captivating image shows Hoon smiling excitedly alongside Mara Aquino, with text overlaying "P5000 HOK CHALLENGE" and a chat message from @missmaraaquino offering Hoon ₱5,000 to reach "Grandmaster" rank in HoK, promising to take him to "try Filipino food" at Jollibee. A subsequent image, posted by Mara Aquino with the caption "Thank you Honor of Kings for this great challenge, Hoon loved the food!" appears to confirm the successful completion of this challenge, showing Hoon and Aquino enjoying a meal together.

A Clear Violation of MLBB Rules

These pieces of evidence unequivocally demonstrate Hoon's active and public engagement with Honor of Kings, a direct competitor in the mobile MOBA genre. This directly corroborates the MSC 2025 Committee's statement regarding the violation of Section 2, Penalty Index B of the MSC Penalty Index, which prohibits team members from engaging in activities that give "competitor games' exposure."

While Mobazane's specific involvement in a competing title is yet to be publicly detailed through similar visual evidence, the committee's announcement stated both players were disqualified for the same reason. The committee had provided Team S8UL with opportunities to rectify the situation, but the team's decision to proceed ultimately led to their removal from the prestigious tournaments.

The implications for esports organizations and players are clear: cross-game participation, especially with direct competitors, carries severe consequences, particularly at the highest levels of competitive play. The MLBB community continues to react to this unprecedented event as Area 77 prepares to take S8UL's place at MSC 2025.

Breaking News: S8UL Disqualified from MSC 2025 and EWC 2025; Area 77 Steps In!

The Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) competitive landscape has been rocked by a major announcement from the MSC 2025 Committee. Team S8UL, the North American representatives for the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), has been officially disqualified from both prestigious tournaments.

The reason? A serious breach of the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup Official Rules by two of their prominent members, Jang "Hoon" Seong-Hun and Michael "Mobazane" Cosgun.

The Violation: Competing in a Rival MOBA Title

According to the official announcement, Hoon and Mobazane were found to have participated in an event associated with a competing mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title. This directly violates Section 2, Penalty Index B of the MSC Penalty Index, which states that "a penalty will be imposed if a 'team member engages in any competitor games' event/ activity/ livestream or other way to give the competitor games' exposure. The competitor games are defined as mobile MOBA game."

The MSC 2025 Committee emphasized that they had extended multiple opportunities to Team S8UL to reconsider Hoon and Mobazane's participation in the competitor event to preserve the team's eligibility. However, despite these efforts, Team S8UL elected to proceed, ultimately leading to the disqualification of both players, effective immediately.

Roster Requirements and Disqualification

With Hoon and Mobazane suspended, Team S8UL is now unable to meet the tournament's minimum roster requirements. As per the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup Official Rules:

• Section 3.1.1.: Each team must have "at least 5 players ("starter") and 1 substitute player and 1 coach."

• Section 5.2.3.: "Teams' player roster need to be the same as the team that qualified for MSC in MPL or local qualifications, unless there is a force majeure before the roster lock date that necessitates a change, such as a player's sudden illness or an accident that prevents them from coming to host country."

Given these rules, and without the ability to make roster changes or invoke force majeure in this situation, Team S8UL's continued participation became impossible.

Area 77 Steps Up!

In light of this development, the MSC 2025 Committee has announced that the slot will now be awarded to Area 77, the runner-up of the NACT Spring 2025. This decision is in accordance with the MSC 2025 Official Rules, ensuring that the tournament proceeds with integrity.

The MSC 2025 Committee expressed its appreciation for the MLBB esports community's understanding and continued support as they uphold the standards that define MLBB esports.

This is a stark reminder of the importance of adhering to official tournament rules and the commitment required from professional esports athletes and organizations. The community will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how Area 77 performs on the global stage.

BOOM! Esports Crowned Inaugural Honor of Kings PKL Spring Season 2025 Grand Champions!

The arena roared as BOOM Esports made history, becoming the first-ever Grand Champions of the Honor of Kings PKL Spring Season 2025! After an intense best-of-seven Grand Finals series against seasoned team and esports powerhouse Blacklist International, BOOM Esports emerged victorious, showcasing exceptional skill and teamwork.

The Grand Finals were a nail-biting affair, culminating in a 3-2 victory for BOOM Esports.

Let's take a quick summary on what happened in this epic Best-of-Seven encounter:

Game 1: A Dominant Start for BOOM Esports

BOOM Esports kicked off the series with an impressive win in Game 1. With a game time of 15:16, BOOM secured a decisive victory over BLCK, ending with a total of 52.4K gold and 9 towers destroyed, compared to BLCK's 44.4K gold and 2 towers. BOOM.KARLLL was named the MVP for Game 1, boasting a KDA of 9/0/5, dealing 24% of the team's damage, and accumulating 12.5K gold.

Game 2: BLCK Fights Back

BLCK was not to be outdone, as they bounced back in Game 2 with a victory that leveled the series. BLCK.CHAMMY1 was the MVP of Game 2, demonstrating a KDA of 5/0/6, 23% damage dealt, and 10.8K total gold. BLCK finished the game with 48.3K gold and 9 towers, while BOOM had 35.6K gold and 0 towers.

Game 3: BLCK Takes the Lead

The momentum continued for BLCK in Game 3, as they secured another win, pushing the series to 2-1 in their favor. BLCK.JUSCHIE was the standout player, earning the MVP title with an impressive KDA of 16/2/3, 37% damage dealt, and a massive 14.5K total gold. BLCK's total gold was 53.6K with 7 towers, while BOOM had 52.0K gold and 7 towers.

Game 4: BLCK Extends Their Lead

BLCK continued their dominant run, securing Game 4 and bringing the series to a formidable 3-1 lead. The game concluded with BLCK's victory at a game time of 12:38. BLCK.CHAMMY1 once again claimed the MVP title for Game 4, showcasing a KDA of 7/0/8, 25% damage dealt, and 11.4K total gold. BOOM was now on the brink of elimination, needing to win every remaining game.

Game 5: BOOM Esports Begins the Comeback

Facing a 1-3 deficit, BOOM Esports showcased incredible resilience and fighting spirit in Game 5. They secured a crucial victory, denying BLCK the championship point and forcing the series to Game 6. The game ran for 19:55, a testament to the intense back-and-forth action. BOOM.KARLLL was the MVP for Game 5, with a KDA of 2/0/7, 27% damage dealt, and 16.4K total gold, igniting hope for the comeback.

Game 6: The Series is Tied! On to the Ultimate Battle!

With newfound momentum, BOOM Esports delivered another stellar performance in Game 6, mirroring their Game 5 win. This decisive victory tied the series at 3-3, pushing the Grand Finals to a thrilling and unprecedented Game 7! The crowd was on its feet, witnessing one of the most incredible comebacks in PKL history. #ULTIMATEBATTLE

Game 7: BOOM Esports Completes the Reverse Sweep and Claims the Title!

In the climactic Game 7, BOOM Esports maintained their composure and incredible form, completing a historic reverse sweep to become the first-ever Honor of Kings PKL Spring Season 2025 Grand Champions! Their resilience, teamwork, and strategic execution proved superior in the face of immense pressure. BOOM.KARLL emerges as the Finals MVP with his Augran with 3/1/5 KDA and 16% Dealt Damage, and 9.7K total gold.

Beyond the Grand Finals: Recognizing the Top Teams

While BOOM Esports celebrated their championship, the PKL Spring Season 2025 also recognized other top-performing teams. Blacklist International secured the 1st Runner-Up position, earning 270,000+ PHP, while ACT Esports Club finished as the 2nd Runner-Up, taking home 160,000+ PHP.

Representing the Philippines on the Global Stage

The triumphs of BOOM Esports, Blacklist International, and ACT Esports Club in the PKL Spring Season 2025 have earned them the prestigious honor of representing the Philippines on the international stage. These three powerhouse teams will now advance to the highly anticipated Kings' World Cup 2025, to be held in Saudi Arabia, where they will compete against the best Honor of Kings teams from around the globe. The entire nation will be rooting for their success!

Congratulations to BOOM Esports on their historic win and to all the teams for an exhilarating PKL Spring Season 2025!