The global Honor of Kings competitive season is entering a decisive stage, with the Honor of Kings Major East League (KME) and Major West League (KMW) set to begin on September 11 and 12. Together, these tournaments bring 14 international teams into contention for spots at the Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC), the game’s highest-tier event.
From the Middle East and North Africa, Gen.G Esports, R8 Esports, and Astar Esports will represent the region in KME. They will face opponents from across Asia, including Nongshim RedForce of South Korea, Japan’s Crazy Raccoon and SCARZ, and South Asia’s CMF Esports. Meanwhile, the KMW bracket will feature squads such as OG Esports (Western Europe), 9z Globant (Latin America), BloodThirstyKings (North America), and Twisted Mind (Western Europe).
Both leagues carry a $50,000 prize pool, but the greater incentive lies in qualification for the KIC. The winners of KME and KMW automatically advance, while second-place finishers will get one last opportunity in a playoff against the champion of the WKS tournament.
Each league will run in a three-week format. The opening week uses a best-of-three, single round robin system to seed teams into different groups. Week two raises the stakes with a best-of-five, double round robin that determines knockout placements. The final week features a double-elimination knockout bracket, with the ultimate deciding match played in a best-of-seven series.
Alongside the Major Leagues, the Honor of Kings Brazil Championship (CHOKBR) is underway in São Paulo. That event, which began September 5, features eight Brazilian teams competing for $22,000 and two qualification slots at KIC. The format includes a group stage followed by playoffs with both single and double elimination rounds.
In total, 16 seats are available at this year’s KIC, which will feature teams from every active competitive region. With leagues running simultaneously across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East, Honor of Kings is continuing to build its international presence.
For MENA teams, the KME represents both a chance to reach the global stage and to help raise the region’s profile in competitive mobile esports. While powerhouse regions such as China and South Korea have long dominated the MOBA scene, tournaments like these give emerging teams the opportunity to establish themselves against more experienced opponents.
The Honor of Kings Major East League will run through September 27, while the Major West League concludes September 28 in Kuala Lumpur. Fans can watch both leagues streamed live across Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok. With KIC qualification on the line, every match will determine whether these squads can carry their regional ambitions into the year’s biggest tournament.
