HomeBois BSE wins KIC 2025 with back-to-back record

HomeBois Black Shrew Esports (BSE) defended its title in the Honor of Kings (HoK) International Cup (KIC) 2025 Grand Finals after a sweep victory against Nova Esports. The team did not waste time sending their opponent back to the drawing board after a quick yet deadly 4-0 clean sweep win. 

The team’s top laner, also known as the Clash Lane, Yit Siang "GuiYu" Wong earned the Finals MVP award. His impressive map control made sure Nova Esports could not steal the momentum from his squad. 

This convincing victory made HomeBois BSE the back-to-back champions of KIC 2025.

HomeBois BSE was a fan favorite, especially in the Malaysian HoK esports scene. The team is near unstoppable, both in local and international events. A lot of fans were confident that they would make it far this year. It’s no surprise, considering their dominating performance in previous matches. Only Blacklist International was able to give HomeBois a hard time in the KIC 2025 Knockouts with a match that lasted seven rounds. Even then, the Malaysian squad still emerged victorious.

Nova, on the other hand, was also showing off its potential with gusto. No other team was able to break them in the Knockout Stage until they met Homebois in the Upper Bracket Final. They lost with a 1-4 score. The team had to claw their way back to the Grand Finals after defeating Alpha Gaming in the Lower Bracket Final. 

The Grand Finals were a high-stakes revenge match for Nova. But for HomeBois, it was just a Sunday in the KIC 2025. 

The grand finale between HomeBois and Nova in the KIC 2025 happened on November 30, 2025. It drew thousands of fans to Ayala Malls in the Philippines, where the event was held. HomeBois BSE and Nova, two rivals with plenty of history, faced off in a best-of-seven series. The match promised fireworks from the very first match.

Game 1 immediately set the tone for the evening. Both teams traded blows throughout the early minutes, neither willing to give an inch. As the mid-game approached, Nova seemed to pull slightly ahead, but Tat Yann "MusangKing" Chan kept HomeBoise BSE alive with a series of clutch plays. On the other hand, GuiYu was making sure the team had enough space to make these plays happen. In the ninth minute, MusangKing cut through Nova’s lineup, flipping the momentum. With the Overlord under their control, HomeBoise marched down the lane, cracking open Nova’s defenses and eventually claiming the opening win.

The back-and-forth trades continued in the next three matches. Nova gave it their all, but it was no match for what HomeBois showcased. It was a carnage and relentless that no other teams managed to counter. Eventually, Nova folded, and it was over in just four rounds. HomeBois was crowned as the champions of KIC 2025, with its Clash Laner GuiYu earning the Finals MVP award. And with victory secured, the boys will be going home to Malaysia to a hero’s welcome, greeted by fans beaming with Malaysian pride. 

But the journey is far from over for both grand finalists. Both HomeBois BSE and Nova Esports, together with Alpha Gaming, will compete in the 2025 Honor of Kings Challenger Cup (HCC). This is the highest tier for HoK esports and will be the first time that the league will invite international teams.