Sports
Honor of Kings
Honor of Kings and its esports leagues have much in store for Southeast Asia, Brazil, and the entire world.
Senior Director of Level Infinite Global Esports Center, James Yang, answered some questions from esports.gg regarding Honor of Kings’ global momentum, growth, and reception as an esports title and a competitive mobile game.
James Yang, Senior Director of the Level Infinite Global Esports Center (Photo via Level Infinite)
What can you say about the growth that Honor of Kings has shown?
We’re encouraged by the growth that Honor of Kings has so far, both as a game and as an esports title. The level of engagement we’ve seen from players, tournament participants, and creators has been promising, and it reinforces our belief in the game’s global potential.
That said, we’re still in the early stages of building a long-term, sustainable ecosystem across Southeast Asia. Our vision is to replicate the depth and scale of what we’ve successfully built in other markets—a vibrant community supported by competitive leagues, strong creator networks, and passionate fanbases—while tailoring that experience to fit the unique culture and dynamics of each local market.
At the same time, we remain focused on bringing the excitement of Honor of Kings to new audiences and empowering our players across the globe, not just to play the game, but to grow with it as professionals, creators, and community leaders.
We look forward to more players joining Honor of Kings, playing together, and winning together.
Honor of Kings as a global presence
AG.AL took the 2025 Honor of Kings World Cup win at EWC 2025. (Image via Level Infinite)
For KWC 2025, the biggest region in terms of players, outside of China and SEA, was Brazil. What are your thoughts on HoK’s presence in South America?
We’re excited to see the strong interest and momentum for Honor of Kings in South America, particularly in Brazil. In fact, Honor of Kings became the most downloaded MOBA game in Brazil shortly after its release in 2023, which is a strong validation of its appeal among local players and fans. This kind of traction gives us confidence in the long-term potential of the region. It’s one of the most passionate and competitive gaming markets in the world, and the response to KWC 2025 reflected that Brazil was the largest player base outside of China and Southeast Asia.
The Brazilian team A7 finished in 5th–8th place, proving that Brazil’s esports teams still have a strong presence and competitiveness on the global stage. In esports particularly, South America is part of our regional professional leagues. CHOKBR is the professional league in Brazil, and we are happy to see more and more esports players from Brazil shine and show their talents on Honor of Kings global esports platforms.
We have been actively exploring ways to deepen our presence in South America through localized content, creator partnerships, and competitive opportunities that tap into the region’s unique energy and love for esports.
Ultimately, our goal is to build a global ecosystem where players everywhere—including in Brazil—feel empowered, inspired, and represented at the highest levels of play.
The Philippines will once again host HoK Esports, this time for KIC.
What goes into consideration when choosing venues?
The Honor of Kings International Championship (KIC) is one of the most important global esports tournaments from Honor of Kings. However, this is more than just a tournament; we see it as a “festival” for all Honor of Kings players, which is why we host it in different countries to engage with our players offline. This year, we’ve chosen the Philippines because of the immense energy and passion of Filipino players. We highly value the Philippine market and hope that through KIC’s presence in the country, we can host a huge offline festival that will attract more players to join. This is a significant opportunity for us to demonstrate our appreciation and prioritization of the Filipino community within the esports landscape.
This year’s KIC will have a 1M USD prize pool (Image via Level Infinite)
KIC being held in the Philippines for the first time represents a significant step in our global esports expansion strategy, further reflecting our commitment to making Honor of Kings more accessible and inclusive by lowering barriers to entry and empowering players from all corners of the world to shine on the international stage. KIC is not just about competition—it’s about celebrating diverse gaming cultures and delivering immersive experiences that resonate with local communities. By bringing KIC to new regions, we’re laying the foundation for a truly global esports ecosystem.
How would you describe HoK’s foothold in SEA?
Southeast Asia continues to be a key region for Honor of Kings. From Indonesia and Malaysia to the Philippines and beyond, we’ve seen impressive growth, passionate player engagement, and a fast-maturing esports ecosystem. It’s one of the most dynamic regions globally, and our continued investment here—through localized tournaments, creator partnerships, and major events like KIC—reflects our belief in the long-term potential of SEA.
With KIC, we’re not only providing a stage for top teams to compete for international glory, but also showcasing the region’s incredible talent and passion to the world. Events like these help us strengthen our presence, inspire the next generation of players, and bring us one step closer to building a truly global esports ecosystem.
Filipina host Mara Aquino was awarded the Fan Favorite Voice award (Image via Level Infinite)
Can you share more about Nation Clash, the SEA-focused tournament league?
The Honor of Kings Nation Clash (KNC) is designed as a celebration of Southeast Asia’s vibrant and competitive spirit. By bringing together national teams in a unique regional format, it adds new emotional stakes—allowing players to proudly represent their countries and giving fans a rare chance to rally behind national squads.
The new KNC tournament will be in Malaysia later this year. (Image via Level Infinite)
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What’s at stake in Nation Clash?
The stakes are both competitive and symbolic. The winning region will receive the exclusive in-game Flowborn design set—a prestigious reward that creates a deeper connection between the players, their achievements, and the in-game universe. This adds an extra layer of pride and recognition that goes beyond trophies or prize money.
What are Level Infinite’s hopes for this competition?
For us at Level Infinite, launching KNC is a strategic step in deepening our commitment to Southeast Asia as a key growth region. We want this tournament to not only showcase top-tier talent, but also ignite excitement at the grassroots and national level. The format is tailored to resonate with local audiences, combining high-level play with a strong community narrative.
Will this be a one-time or a recurring event?
While KNC is new, our vision is for it to grow into a recurring event that players and fans can look forward to year after year. It’s a chance to elevate regional competition, foster rivalries, and celebrate Southeast Asia’s growing impact on the global Honor of Kings esports scene.
A lot of the recent developments in HoK Esports have been to nurture its Asian audience. Are you considering any steps to widen the game’s reach to other regions in the world?
While much of our recent focus has been on building strong foundations across Asia—particularly in Southeast Asia—we absolutely see Honor of Kings as a global title, and expanding into new regions is a key part of our long-term strategy.

The strong response we’ve seen from markets like Brazil, MENA, North America, and Europe has shown us that there’s growing demand and enthusiasm for Honor of Kings far beyond Asia. We’re actively exploring ways to support that momentum, whether through localized content, regional tournaments, or strategic partnerships that help us engage with players in a meaningful, culturally relevant way. With BLOODTHIRSTYKINGS (BTK), we’re excited to expand our presence in the NA market further and deepen our connection with players in this region, tapping into the growing competitive esports scene there.
Our approach has always been to grow responsibly, ensuring that we’re not just launching the game in new markets, but also investing in community building, creator ecosystems, and competitive pathways that can sustain long-term engagement. The recent global expansion of tournaments like KIC and the strong participation from non-Asian teams are just early steps in that direction.
Ultimately, our goal is to build a truly global esports and gaming ecosystem—one where players from every region feel represented, empowered, and excited to be part of the Honor of Kings journey.
Honor of Kings Esports look-ahead: Expansion, leagues, and fan engagement
What is the driving inspiration behind the Open Series? How does it benefit the casual viewers and players who may have little intention of going pro?
The driving inspiration behind the Open Series is inclusivity—we wanted to create a competitive pathway that welcomes players at all levels, especially those who might not yet see themselves as professional esports athletes. Not everyone starts with the goal of going pro, but many still want to test their skills, compete with friends, or simply be part of something bigger within the community.
The Open Series lowers the barrier to entry by offering localized, accessible tournaments that make competitive play feel within reach. For casual players and viewers, it creates a space where they can engage with the game beyond ranked matches—whether by participating, supporting local teams, or watching emerging talents from their region rise through the ranks.
Ultimately, the Open Series is about community building. It helps foster a stronger connection between players and the Honor of Kings esports ecosystem, making sure that everyone—not just the top 1%—has a chance to be part of the story.
How do you ensure that fan and player engagement improves throughout the regional professional leagues?
Sustaining and deepening engagement across our regional professional leagues is a top priority for us, both from a player development and fan experience perspective. We believe a strong league isn’t just about high-level competition; it’s about building lasting connections between teams, players, and the communities they represent.
Regional leagues for HoK begin soon. (Image via Level Infinite)
On the player side, we’re focused on providing better support systems, including training programs and more tournaments—from the Open Series, Campus Series, and Regional Professional Leagues to global tournaments—for players to participate in.
Player support and fan experience are important to Yang. (Photo via Level Infinite)
For fans, we’re investing in localized storytelling, interactive content, and more accessible broadcasts, including regional-language commentary and creator collaborations that help bring league narratives to life. We’re also exploring offline activations and community events that give fans the chance to engage with the league beyond the screen.
Our goal is to create a league experience that feels rooted in local pride but connected to the global stage: where fans feel invested, and players feel supported at every step of their journey.

Sports
Pride Collect Three GNAC Weekly Awards After Wesleyan Winter Invitational
WESTON, Mass. — Hannah Griffin, Zoe Kirk, and Justin Thuotte each represented the Pride this week in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) weekly awards. Kirk earned her second Rookie of the Week honor of the season, while Griffin collected her first career Track Athlete of the Week award. Thuotte was named Field Athlete of the Week, marking his first honor of the season and the fifth weekly award of his career.
Zoe Kirk continued her strong rookie campaign with a pair of top-10 finishes. She placed third overall in the high jump with a mark of 1.50 meters, setting a new indoor program record and surpassing the previous mark of 1.46 held by teammate Grace Micklon. Kirk also finished ninth in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 9.93.
Hannah Griffin captured the top spot in the 800 meters with a time of 2:44.36, edging her nearest competitor by nearly one second.
Justin Thuotte delivered another standout performance at the Wesleyan Winter Invitational, winning the long jump with a mark of 6.70 meters to set a new indoor program record, besting his own previous mark of 6.65 from the last meet. He also placed third in the triple jump at 12.99 meters and rounded out his day with a 10th-place finish in the weight throw, posting a personal-best mark of 13.59 meters.
Regis track and field stays close to home this weekend, traveling to Brighton, Massachusetts, to compete at the Suffolk Ice Breaker at The Track at New Balance.
Sports
Ella Parker to Join Milwaukee Volleyball as Newest Addition to Roster
MILWAUKEE – Ella Parker has been announced as the newest addition to the Milwaukee volleyball roster, head coach Susie Johnson announced on Monday afternoon.
Parker will join the Panthers this spring after spending the last three semesters at St. John’s University in Queens, N.Y., where she was a member of the Red Storm for the past two seasons.
“We are excited to add Ella to our team this spring,” said Johnson. “Having played in the Big East Conference, she has match experience and will bring a lot to our program in the Horizon League. We’re excited that she not only can score points for us but defend as well.”
This past fall, Parker played in 16 matches for St. John’s and recorded 138 kills, along with 10 service aces, 26 digs, and 15 blocks. She posted a season-high 16 kills on Oct. 4 at UConn while hitting .361 and later recorded a season-best .692 hitting percentage with nine kills without an error against LeMoyne earlier in the year.
As a true freshman in 2024, Parker saw action in three matches before an injury ended her season.
Originally from Corrales, New Mexico, Parker was a three-year member of the Cougar volleyball team at Cibola High School in Albuquerque. During her prep career, she earned AVCA Girls High School All-Region honors as both a junior and a senior and was named to the All-American Watch List.
A multiple-time All-State, All-Region, All-Area, and All-Conference selection, Parker was also chosen for the New Mexico Red and Green All-Start Team. She set Cibola program records for both most kills in a season and most kills in a match.
Parker played club volleyball for Duke City Volleyball Academy and competed in beach volleyball with the Albuquerque Beach Volleyball Academy. Away from the court, she was also a competitive swimmer for more than 10 years.
Parker joins fellow transfer Kameron Stover, along with incoming freshmen Olivia Doerre, Emma Duffy, Kayla Landerud, and Hope Wagner as newcomers for the 2026 volleyball season.
Sports
T&F trio earn GNAC honors
PORTLAND, ORE. – The University of Alaska Anchorage had three Seawolves earn GNAC Athlete of the Week honors for indoor track and field.
Liv Heite was named the women’s track athlete of the week. Her top effort was a 60-meter hurdles time of 8.91 seconds, upping her name to third on the GNAC performance list this winter. Heite is the reigning GNAC silver medalist in the event from last season. She also ran 8.09 seconds in the 60 meters, 26.02 seconds in the 200 meters and ran a leg of a UAA 4×400 meter relay squad that posted 3:57.48 minutes to round out her productive weekend. Now in her third season at UAA, Heite is a four-time GNAC medalist earning silver in both the 2024 and 2025 100-meter hurdles (outdoor), silver in the 2025 60-meter hurdles (indoor), and silver in the 2025 400-meter hurdles (outdoor)
“Liv looks like she is ready to pick up where she left off,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “She started the season off faster than she did last year and ran consistently over the weekend. I think she is ready to take it to the next level.”
Sarah Dittman was named the women’s field athlete of the week. She kicked things off with a high jump mark of 4-11.75 feet (1.52 meters) and a long jump of 17-4.25 feet (5.29 meters), placing fifth in both events. Each of those marks slotted her fourth among GNAC competitors so far in the indoor season. Dittman also contributed on the track, running a 200 meters time of 26.79 seconds, a 60-meter hurdles time of 10.61 seconds and running a leg of UAA’s 4×400 meter relay unit that posted a time of 4:14.89 minutes.
“Sarah had an encouraging start to her college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “I am really looking forward to seeing where her growth and development over the course of this season is going to take her.”
Tyler Drake was named the men’s field athlete of the week. His weekend was highlighted by a third-place finish in the long jump, as he cleared 22-3 feet (6.78 meters). That stands as the second-best long jump by a GNAC athlete so far this season. On the track, he posted times of 23.55 seconds in the 200 meters and 8.36 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.
“Tyler had himself a great start to his college career,” said head coach Ryan McWilliams. “He set personal bests in the hurdles and long jump and moved himself into the top-10 on UAA’s performance list. His long jump start is even more encouraging because of how obvious it is that he still has so much room to grow.”
UAA will compete at the UW Preview Jan. 16-17.
Sports
Shank Named GNAC Setter of the Week After Facilitating Offense in Season Opener
WESTON, Mass. — Evan Shank earned the first Setter of the Week honor of the 2026 season from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) after leading Regis College to a 3–0 sweep of Elms on Saturday.
The junior directed the offense in the Pride’s straight-sets victory on January 9, recording 33 assists to average an impressive 11.0 assists per set. Making his debut in crimson and gold, Shank efficiently controlled the tempo throughout the match, guiding Regis to a dominant non-conference win.
Shank and the Pride will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Curry College for their 2026 home opener at 7 p.m.
Sports
UC Davis Athletics Concludes Fall With Competitive Success, National Honors and Facilities Investment
DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Athletics capped the Fall 2025 season with record-setting performances, national and conference honors, and postseason success across multiple programs. The season also marked the announcement of Aggie Ascent, a $265 million facilities plan designed to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience.
“Across multiple programs this fall, our teams competed at a high level, earned conference championships, advanced in postseason play, and achieved milestones that reflect the depth and consistency of our department,” said UC Davis Athletic Director Rocko DeLuca. “Those results are a direct credit to our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, who continue to raise the standard through their commitment, preparation, and belief in what we’re building here. As we celebrate those accomplishments, we’re focused on matching that competitive momentum with long-term investment in our facilities and resources to support our teams at the highest level of Division I athletics. I’m proud of what this group accomplished this fall and excited about where Aggie Athletics is headed.”
Aggie Ascent Announcement
This fall, UC Davis Athletics announced Aggie Ascent, a comprehensive facilities master plan. The $265 million, phased, gift-driven project prioritizes high-impact and revenue-generating facilities, beginning with a reimagined UC Davis Health Stadium featuring premium seating, suites, and a year-round hospitality space, alongside a new NCAA-compliant Woody Wilson Track and Field Complex and a Golf Training Center serving both Aggie programs and the surrounding community. Future phases include upgrades to baseball, soccer, and the University Credit Union Center, as well as a new softball stadium and redevelopment of south campus facilities.
Developed in partnership with ELS Architecture and Urban Design, the plan represents the university’s unified vision for athletics infrastructure, focused on enhancing the student-athlete experience, elevating the fan experience, and ensuring long-term sustainability. The project reflects UC Davis’ commitment to innovation and competitive excellence at the Division I level.
Championships and Postseason
UC Davis Athletics delivered a strong year highlighted by postseason appearances, conference championships, and historic milestones across multiple programs. Aggie football, gymnastics, and women’s golf each qualified for NCAA postseason competition, with several teams extending their seasons beyond conference play.
Conference success followed, as volleyball captured the Big West regular season title and men’s water polo claimed the Big West Conference championship, continuing the program’s tradition of postseason success.
Football, under second-year head coach Tim Plough, continued its national climb by advancing to the NCAA Quarterfinals for a second-straight year, while posting a top eight finish nationally in back-to-back seasons coming in at No. 8 following the most recent fall. Field hockey also marked a milestone year, hosting and competing in its first Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship game.
Historic Wins and Notable Awards
UC Davis student-athletes earned significant national and conference recognition across multiple programs this year. Men’s water polo standout Thomas Kiesling was named a third-team ACWPC All-American after earning All-Big West First Team honors, placing him among the nation’s top collegiate players.
Field hockey collected major accolades, as Karly Redman earned MPSF Offensive Player of the Year honors, while freshman goalkeeper Addie Collingwood was named MPSF Freshman of the Year following an impactful debut season.
Football earned multiple postseason honors this season, highlighted by a handful of Aggies receiving All-America recognition from four different national organizations. Among those was first team All-American Jacob Psyk, making it three-straight seasons the Aggies have had at least one first team All-American.
Volleyball capped a strong season with multiple major awards. Jade Light was named Big West Player of the Year and earned American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Honorable Mention, becoming the program’s first All-American since 1996. She was joined by Mia Starr, the Big West Setter of the Year, and Ximena Cordero Barr, who earned Libero of the Year honors. These accolades coincided with a record-setting season, as the Aggies posted the most conference wins in program history.
ABOUT UC DAVIS ATHLETICS:
UC Davis, the No. 2 ranked public university by the Wall Street Journal, is home to 40,000 undergraduate students and 12,000 employees. Ranked #1 in Agriculture and Forestry as well as #1 in Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis is located in a true California college town nestled between world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley and Lake Tahoe. Over 650 Aggie student-athletes compete in 25 Division I varsity sports, with 16 sports transitioning to the Mountain West Conference beginning in 2026–27.
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