Chengdu AG clinches King Pro League title in major upset

The world of mobile esports recently witnessed a historic moment as the 2025 King Pro League (KPL) Grand Finals concluded with Chengdu AG (All Gamers) securing the coveted championship.

Staged at Beijing’s monumental National Stadium, famously known as the Bird’s Nest, the event set new standards for competitive mobile gaming.

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In a thrilling conclusion to their dominant season, AG triumphed over the celebrated ten-time champions, Wolves Esports, clinching a hard-fought 4-2 victory.

The King Pro League was a record-breaking spectacle

2025 Kings Pro League Grand Finals at Bird's Nest in Beijing attempting an official Guinness World Record — Credit: Tencent

The Grand Finals not only determined the KPL champion but also made an attempt at a Guinness World Record for the “Largest Attendance for an Esports Match”, drawing an unprecedented live audience of 62,196 fans.

This was the first time a mobile esports tournament was held in this iconic venue, demonstrating the massive cultural reach of the scene.

The production was on an unparalleled scale, featuring a 7,000 square-meter panoramic LED display and a 128-meter main stage, making it one of China’s most ambitious esports events to date.

What went down during the 2025 KPL Grand Finals

KPL 2025 grand finals MVP is Yinou from Chengdu AG — Credit: Tencent

The final series pitted the season’s powerhouse, AG—fresh off their Spring and Summer seasonal victories—against the formidable ten-time champions, Wolves Esports.

The atmosphere was electrifying, culminating in a hard-fought 4-2 win for AG. The series employed a global ban-and-pick format alongside the intense Ultimate Battle rule.

YiNuo delivered a standout performance, earning the Finals Most Valuable Player (FMVP) title. His achievement is permanently etched in Honor of Kings history with the award of an exclusive FMVP skin, a champion team signature skin, an in-game team avatar frame, and a limited-time team voice line.

The champion’s share of the total 70 million RMB (US$9.8 million) prize pool was 20 million RMB (US$2.8 million).

The KPL maintains its status as the world’s most-watched esports event, connecting with hundreds of millions of young viewers, logging 250 million unique viewers in 2025. With 18 city-based clubs integrating deeply with local culture, the league continues to drive mobile esports forward in terms of scale and fan engagement.

The Honor of Kings competitive structure provides a robust multi-tiered system, from grassroots tournaments to the pinnacle of professional play, which includes both the KPL and the forthcoming International Championship.

The Honor of Kings International Championship beckons

Honor of Kings international champions 2025 key visual — Credit: Tencent

The focus now shifts to the 2025 Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC), the global showcase event scheduled from November 14 to 30, 2025. Sixteen elite teams will converge on Manila, Philippines, to compete for a $1,000,000 prize pool.

The tournament will be held across two venues: the Shooting Gallery (hosting the Group Stage and initial Knockout Stage from November 14–23) and the Activity Center, Ayala Malls Manila Bay (for the final Knockout Stage and Grand Finals from November 28–30).

The global roster includes champions from leagues across Southeast Asia, Brazil’s CHOKBR, the Major East and West Leagues (KWE and KMW), and top contenders from the KIC Last Call and Phoenix Reborn Qualifiers.

The competing teams are: