Blacklist International survives Boom Esports to win PKL Fall 2025 crown

Members of Blacklist International hoist the PKL 2025 Fall Season championship trophy.

HoK Philippine Esport

MANILA, Philippines — Blacklist International etched its name in Honor of Kings history on Sunday after surviving a seven-game thriller against Boom Esports to clinch its first Philippines King League (PKL) title at Ayala Malls Trinoma.

The Codebreakers had been the tournament favorites during the inaugural season of the PKL, having mounted a perfect group stage run at 14-0 and only dropping maps against Boom Esports in the upper bracket and grand finals. The heartbreak continued as the team suffered an early exit at the Kings World Cup during the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, placing at the bottom 15th-18th place.

This Fall Season, Blacklist International still had an impressive group stage run, finishing as the second seed with an 11-3 standing. The team suffered losses at the hands of ACT Esports Club and eventual top seed Boom Esports.

In the playoffs, the Codebreakers came prepared, sweeping ACT Esports, 3-0, in the upper bracket semifinals and plowing through Boom Esports, 3-1, to once again book themselves a slot at the PKL Grand Finals.

But its rival Boom Esports was not too far behind. The former quickly survived the lower bracket, sweeping Elevate, 3-0, to set up a rematch of last season's grand finals.

In the best-of-seven series, Blacklist International quickly took down Boom Esports to take the opening game in under 13 minutes. But Boom Esports had been in the same situation before with their rivals, securing key team fights to stage a comeback and the series lead as they took Games 2 and 3.

A deadly team fight in the final moments of Game 4 gave the momentum back to Blacklist International, which managed to tie the series. But Boom Esports was hungry to defend its title with a quick 15-minute Game 5 to move to match point.

Game 6 seemed to be the turning point for Blacklist International — the longest game so far in the tournament — reaching over 22 minutes and seeing the Tempest Dragon spawn, the Codebreakers dismantled Boom Esports with key objective takes and team fights that sent the series to a deciding Game 7.

As with previous Honor of Kings grand finals decider, both teams were given a time to draft without knowing the heroes of their opponents. Blacklist International's Yuhuan-Agudo combo proved lethal to Boom Esports' lineup, giving Blacklist International a swift victory at just nine minutes to take the PKL trophy.

Though the local league has ended, Honor of Kings Esports still has a busy schedule ahead. Blacklist International along with fan voted WeTrnd Esports will compete in the Honor of Kings Nation Clash in Malaysia at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, PKL's top four teams — Blacklist International, BOOM Esports, Elevate and A.C.T. Esports Club — will hope to win in front of their home crowd as the Philippines hosts the Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC) this November.