The final weekend of the Honor of Kings International Championship 2025 has officially kicked off at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay. Filipino fan favorite Blacklist International fought for tournament lives against European squad Twisted Minds. This explosive match-up kicked off the first match at KIC 2025 where the fans can catch the action live at the Activity Center. Blacklist International could not be denied making history with a Top 4 slot after they bested Twisted Minds 4-2 in front of an explosive home crowd.
READ MORE: Blacklist International, BOOM Esports fight for tournament lives at KIC 2025
In Game 1 of this KIC bout, Twisted Minds went with a more aggressive and team fight oriented line up behind Wu ‘Clean’ Botong’s Musashi that paid off with the first two kills and the first Tyrant of the game. Justine ‘Juschie’ Tan’s Agudo capitalized on a questionable dive by Twisted Minds that helped steady the ship for the Pinoy squad. Blacklist International then carried the momentum to take the Shadow Tyrant and wipe Twisted Mind off the map for a quick 12 minute win.
Twisted Minds switched it up with a Fade and Lapulapu pick in Game 2 while Blacklist International picked up the ever successful Ao’yin and Zhang Fei. Twisted Minds managed to pick off Juschie’s Pei before the first major objective but they couldn’t capitalize. Golden ‘Goldenk1te’ Dajao’s farm on the Ao’yin was incredible and Blacklist International took the early game anew in Game 2. Twisted Minds showed life by taking some key pickoffs against Juschie and Goldenk1te which allowed them to steal Game 2 from the hometown heroes with big plays from Qi ‘Ctboy’ Changpeng’s Lapupu and Martin ‘Hailang’ Raza’s Mai Shiranui.
It was another gamble for Twisted Minds in the draft with the Xuance in Game 3. The gamble sputtered in the early game with Blacklist International findings the first seven kills in the game behind great rotation from ‘Dragon’ Dajao’s Wang Zhaojun. Twisted Minds wanted to prolong Game 3 but Blacklist International wanted to make it a quick win as they took the 2-1 lead in the series.
Blacklist International finally unleashed the signature Lam for Juschie while Twisted Minds picked up the push oriented Agudo for themselves in Game 4. Twisted Minds kept the early game much closer this time around with Clean managing some early pick offs against Blacklist. Giorgo ‘Nighty’ Hu finally came to play with his Mayene and was a constant presence for Twisted Minds as they equalize the series 2-2.
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Game 5 was a very quick and smooth win for Blacklist International. Juschie’s Augran managed to snowball from the first minute and Twisted Minds was routed in just 11 minutes.
Blacklist International were looking to close the series out in Game 6. Good rotations from Chammy ‘Chammy1’ Nazarea’s Mayene and Juschie’s Dun allowed their squad to take control of the early game. Giovanni ‘Shanks’ Song’s Lady Sun managed to steal a crucial Overlord to keep his squad’s hope alive in the mid game. As the game went on though, Twisted Minds just could not keep up with the superior teamfight and sustain of Blacklist International eventually grind out the win.
Blacklist International make it to Top 4 of an international tournament for the first time and make history for the Philippines. Fellow Filipino squad BOOM Esports also fight for tournament lives against Malaysian squad Alpha Gaming.
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