By Sagar V. Mankar 
Nova Esports from Malaysia defeated South Korea’s Nongshim RedForce 4-3 in the finals of the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 3, taking home $100,000 from the $300,000 prize pool.
The championship match took place on March 1, 2025, at SM North EDSA in Manila, Philippines.
The best-of-seven finals series was extremely close, with both teams trading victories throughout the match. Nongshim RedForce surprised everyone by winning the first game, putting early pressure on the tournament favorites. Nova Esports quickly recovered, winning the next two games in dominant fashion, finishing them in just 14 and 10 minutes.
Nova extended their lead to 3-1 with signature hero picks like Menki in game four and Agudo in game five. However, Nongshim RedForce wasn’t ready to surrender. The Korean team fought back impressively, shutting down Nova’s hero picks to take a 3-2 lead in the series.
With their backs against the wall, Nova Esports rallied to win game six behind the stellar performance of Xuan on Fuzi, who recorded two kills and ten assists. This victory forced a decisive game seven, known as an “Ultimate Battle” in Honor of Kings competition.
The final game featured no limitations on hero selection, with both teams bringing their best strategies. Despite Nongshim RedForce having more experience in Ultimate Battle scenarios, Nova Esports showed greater confidence and momentum. After a tense battle near the Tyrant objective, Nova secured the final teamfight victory needed to claim the championship.
Eariler, Nova Esports dominated the group stage and playoffs. They defeated Impunity 3-0 and Kagendra 3-1 in group play, then swept fellow Malaysian team AG Global 4-0 in the knockout stage quarterfinals.
Their toughest challenge before the finals came against Team Vitality in the semifinals, where they were pushed to another game seven Ultimate Battle before advancing with a 4-3 victory.
The victory continues Malaysia’s impressive streak in Honor of Kings international competitions. Malaysian teams have now won three consecutive major tournaments: Invitational Season 2 (LGD Gaming), HOK Championship (Black Shrew Esports), and now Invitational Season 3 (Nova Esports).
Filipino fans at the venue had plenty to cheer for as well, with hometown favorites Blacklist International finishing in the top four after being eliminated by Nongshim RedForce in the semifinals. Other Filipino teams Elevate and Rough World Era placed in the top eight and top twelve, respectively.
Beyond the tournament itself, Honor of Kings officials announced their esports roadmap for 2025, which includes a $15 million investment to grow the game globally. Six new regional leagues will join existing competitions like the King Pro League (China) and Honor of Kings Brazil Championship.
Fresh from their championship victory, Nova Esports will continue their competitive journey in the newly formed Malaysia Kings League as Honor of Kings expands its esports presence worldwide.