Nova Esports of Malaysia reaffirmed their dominance in mobile esports on Saturday night, sweeping South Korea’s Nongshim RedForce 4–0 to claim the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 4 title at the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall in Jakarta. The emphatic victory, sealed before a live crowd and a global online audience, made Nova back-to-back champions and positioned the team as the benchmark of the competitive Honor of Kings scene in Southeast Asia.
The Best of Seven grand final ended swiftly, with Nova’s disciplined map control and tempo management leaving little room for a Nongshim comeback. By night’s end, Nova lifted the trophy and the tournament’s top prize of $35,000 from a total prize pool of $100,000, capping what organizers billed as the first major international esports event of 2026.
A Commanding Title Defense
From the opening draft to the closing push, Nova played with the assurance of a reigning champion. The Malaysian squad, which also won the Invitational’s previous season in Manila in 2025, dictated every phase of the final. Nongshim RedForce, runners-up this time, struggled to disrupt Nova’s coordinated rotations and objective-heavy style.
The sweep was decisive. Nova did not drop a single game in the final series, an outcome that underlined the growing gap between a well-drilled titleholder and challengers still searching for consistency under pressure.
Jakarta Hosts a Global Showdown
The tournament ran from January 31 to February 8, drawing eight elite teams from across Southeast Asia and beyond. Matches were played offline at Jakarta’s iconic Gelora Bung Karno complex, with doors open to fans and proceedings livestreamed globally through official channels.
Group-stage play followed a single round-robin, Best of Five format with no eliminations, giving each team a chance to test strategies before the knockout rounds. The playoffs, culminating in the grand final on February 8, shifted to a single-elimination Best of Seven, where margins for error disappeared.
- Group A: Blacklist International (Philippines), Nova Esports (Malaysia), Nongshim RedForce (South Korea), Bigetron by Vitality (Indonesia)
- Group B: BOOM Esports (Philippines), Team HAQ (Malaysia), Dominator Esports (Indonesia), Kagendra (Indonesia)
High Stakes, High Rewards
Beyond prestige, the Invitational offered substantial financial incentive. Nova’s championship purse of $35,000 topped the earnings list, while Nongshim RedForce secured $17,000 as runners-up. For many teams, the event served as both a proving ground and a livelihood, reflecting esports’ continued evolution into a professionalized, prize-driven industry.
One commentator captured the intensity during the broadcast, describing the action as “going to be chaotic… hectic,” a fair assessment of matches that often hinged on split-second decisions and coordinated five-on-five engagements.
The Southeast Asian Picture
For regional audiences, particularly in the Philippines and Indonesia, the Invitational was as much about representation as results. Philippine squads Blacklist International and BOOM Esports advanced from the group stage, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a competitive, if still developing, force in mobile esports.
While neither reached the final, their participation kept Filipino fans engaged and highlighted the competitive depth of the field. In Malaysia, Nova’s triumph was celebrated as a validation of sustained investment in player development and coaching.
An Industry Still Finding Its Footing
Unlike traditional sports tournaments, the Honor of Kings Invitational operated largely outside government frameworks. No public agencies played a role, and the event fell beyond the jurisdiction of regulators such as the Philippines’ gaming authorities. Organization came from private publishers and esports specialists, notably TiMi Studios and Level Infinite.
This hands-off structure reflects a broader reality: esports thrives on global connectivity and private sponsorship, with minimal direct impact on daily life, public services, or local economies outside host cities.
What the Win Signals
Nova’s repeat championship sends a clear message to rivals ahead of the 2026 season: the title still runs through Kuala Lumpur. Their Jakarta performance combined strategic patience with mechanical precision, a reminder that in esports, championships are built through preparation as much as raw skill.
For fans across Southeast Asia—including Malta’s own growing gaming community following international circuits online—the Invitational underscored how quickly competitive gaming is maturing. In Jakarta, Nova Esports did more than win a tournament; they set the pace for a region still chasing the next generation of champions.
