Honor of Kings EWC 2026: Kuaishou Gaming crowned champion

The KML revolution: unifying global Honor of Kings Esports

The competitive landscape underwent a major transformation at the start of 2026. In late 2025, Level Infinite officially announced the creation of the Kings Major League (KML), a new circuit merging the former regional leagues WKS (Wildcard Kings Series), KME (Major East League) and KMW (Major West League) into a single entity. The decision aims to harmonize the global level of play and offer greater visibility to international sponsors investing in the leading mobile MOBA.

The first edition, KML Spring 2026, took place as a LAN event in Malaysia from March 16 to 22, bringing together 10 teams from several continents for the only direct qualifying spot for the World Cup. Virtus.pro won the title against Nongshim RedForce (with a 4-2 score in the final match), confirming the rise of Western organizations on the mobile scene. Alongside the KML, four national leagues continue to operate in parallel: Indonesia Kings League (IKL), Philippines Kings League (PKL), Malaysia Kings League (MKL) and Brazil's CHOKBR championship, while China's King Pro League (KPL) retains its franchised structure.

The merger's impact on the ecosystem

The creation of the KML is more than a simple name change. By pooling resources and talent within a single league, Level Infinite is simplifying players' path to professionalism and making the schedule easier for Western viewers to understand, after they had long struggled with the multitude of “Invitational” tournaments. The new roster rules (5 to 7 players, with one slot open to an out-of-region player) also encourage international mixing.

Honor of Kings World Cup 2026: the pinnacle at the Paris Esports World Cup

The season's highlight was the Honor of Kings World Cup 2026, held from July 30 to August 8 as part of the 2026 Esports World Cup. While Riyadh was initially announced as the host city, the organizers confirmed on May 20, 2026, that the entire 2026 EWC, including Honor of Kings, would ultimately take place in Paris, at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. For the event's overall schedule, ticketing and practical information on site, our complete guide to the 2026 Esports World Cup in Paris remains the reference.

The major new feature of this edition was that, for the first time, the World Cup brought Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor teams together on the same stage in a crossover format that opened the competition to new regions such as India, Thailand, Vietnam and Taiwan. Twenty teams competed for a $3 million prize pool on a special game client based on Season 15 (S15), designed to guarantee competitive fairness and absolute network stability throughout the tournament.

The tournament was played on an isolated Season 15 client, preventing any sudden meta changes during the competition and giving teams stable preparation regardless of the current live patch.

Twenty spots were distributed among the regional circuits: one for China's KPL (through Kuaishou Gaming, the KPL Spring 2026 champion), two for the KML, several for the Indonesian, Malaysian and Philippine leagues, and, for the first time, two spots for India, earned through the King's Arise India Qualifier. AG Super Play, competing under the name AG.AL International, reached the final, but Kuaishou Gaming won the title.

2026 Asian Games: Honor of Kings Esports becomes an Olympic discipline

For the first time in such an integrated format, the game was an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4. Unlike club tournaments such as the KML, nations competed here under their respective flags. This is an unprecedented moment of institutional validation for mobile esports, placing players on the same footing as traditional athletes. China, the defending champion since the 2023 Hangzhou Games, had to contend with the rise of South Korea and other nations investing heavily in their mobile infrastructure; host nation Japan did not participate in the event, with its spot redistributed through the qualifiers.

This Olympic recognition goes beyond entertainment: it affects how governments view esports, makes it easier for professional players to obtain “athlete” visas and attracts non-endemic sponsors from the luxury and automotive sectors. The competition used a special version of the game featuring 85 heroes available in both Honor of Kings and Arena of Valor.

Regional analysis: the Honor of Kings Esports meta

Historically, China has always held a considerable tactical advantage thanks to the King Pro League (KPL). The 2026 season has nevertheless seen serious challengers emerge. Brazil has established itself as the most unpredictable region, with a playstyle based on early skirmishes that disrupts the surgical discipline of Chinese teams. Indonesia and the Philippines, drawing on their experience with other mobile MOBAs, bring highly refined neutral-objective expertise, turning every boss attempt into a precisely calculated chess match.

The 2026 meta is shifting toward so-called “double-flex” compositions, in which selected heroes can switch roles between the jungle and roaming lane until the very last second of the draft phase. This strategic depth demands complete versatility from coaches. Western teams, now represented at the highest level by organizations such as Virtus.pro in the KML, are beginning to stand out through their macro-map management, favoring safe rotations over risky duels.

China (KPL): the standard of excellence

Style: total control of the pace and perfect macro management. Kuaishou Gaming, the KPL Spring 2026 champion, and reigning world champion AG Super Play (AG.AL International) remain the logical favorites for the Paris World Cup, thanks to their iron discipline in the late game.

Southeast Asia: creative aggression

Style: chaotic team fights and constant aggression from level 1. Organizations such as Blacklist International rely on individual talent to create chaos in the opposing lanes.

Brazil and LATAM: masters of the unexpected

Style: exotic picks and “cheese” strategies that force opponents out of their comfort zones. Vivo Keyd Stars is the team to watch for those who enjoy spectacle and comebacks, alongside Virtus.pro, crowned champion of the first KML Spring.

Honor of Kings Esports FAQ

Where is the 2026 Honor of Kings World Cup being played?

In Paris, from July 30 to August 8, 2026, as part of the 2026 Esports World Cup. The tournament was initially scheduled to take place in Riyadh, but the entire EWC was moved to Paris.

What is the “S15” version used at the EWC?

It is a fixed game client based on Season 15, used to prevent last-minute balance changes from disrupting team preparation during the World Cup.

Who won KML Spring 2026?

Virtus.pro, who defeated Nongshim RedForce in the grand final after the tournament held in Malaysia in March 2026.

Can French players become professionals?

Yes. With the leagues merged into the KML, the division covering Europe offers the continent's talent a clearer path, with community qualifying tournaments before joining a professional organization.

Where can matches be watched again?

KML and World Cup matches are broadcast on the official Honor of Kings Esports YouTube and Twitch channels, with multilingual commentary during major events such as the EWC.