Blacklist International books spot in KIC 2025 Knockout Stage

November 18 ------ BLACKLIST International advanced to the Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 Knockout Stage after a decisive 3-0 sweep against Indonesia’s Vesakha Esports in the Group A upper bracket finals at Shooting Gallery Studio in Makati City.

The Philippines still has a long journey ahead before claiming the coveted KIC trophy. Let’s take a look at how Blacklist and other PH squads continue the climb, one step at a time. Blacklist International and Vesakha set Hero’s Gorge ablaze in a grueling 19-minute Game 1, fighting intensely for map control and key objectives.

Vesakha’s 18-minute Vanguard contention turned into a nightmare after Chammy “Chammy1” Nazarrea, playing as Biron, executed a game-changing double kill. With just one opponent left, Blacklist seized the moment and surged forward to shatter Vesakha’s crystal. Chammy1 showcased his killer instinct on Biron, powering Blacklist to claim the series opener with a 2-3-7 KDA.

Game 2 saw Blacklist and Vesakha clash fiercely again in the early game, with gold and kills almost even on both sides. Even with Vesakha’s courageous defense, Iqbal “Bal” Khan’s unsuccessful attempt to break into the backlines with Fatih during the 11-minute period gave Blacklist a perfect opportunity to secure a 2-0 match point. Charles “Chazz” Esguerra on Zhang Fei stood out with an impressive 2-1-7 KDA, bringing Blacklist one win closer to the Knockouts.

In Game 3, Vesakha again mounted a strong defense, but the Codebreakers maintained control, thanks to Justine “Juschie” Tan’s brilliant 10-0-7 performance on Augran. Meanwhile, A.C.T Esports Club bowed out after a 0-3 loss to Nongshim RedForce, and Boom Esports dropped to the Group C lower bracket finals to fight for survival against Indonesia’s Kagendra. Elevate will take on Brazil’s Alpha7 Esports in the Group B lower bracket semifinals, hoping to stay alive in KIC 2025 contention. The journey for Filipino teams continues, with every match carrying high stakes and national pride on the line.

Source: spin.ph