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ESPORTS: Blacklist International formally announces entry to Honor of Kings with ex-Wild Rift players

fragster Paolo 7. June 2024

More and more moves are coming to Blacklist International as the Philippines-based team expands to other esports.

Just today, the team formally announced its entry to Honor of Kings esports, having already competed in the Honor of Kings Invitational Season 2 Philippines Qualifier.

The team fell to BOOM Esports, 3-0, in the grand final last May 26th, and will compete in the HOK SEA Last Chance Qualifier.

The team is composed of veterans from the former G2 Blacklist squad that used play League of Legends: Wild Rift: top laner Chammy Paul “Chammy1” Nazarrea, jungler Justine Richie “Juschie” Tan, midlaner Aaron Mark “Aaron” Bingay, bottom laner Golden Hart “Goldenk1te” Dajao, and support Charles “Chaazz” Esguerra. They are coached by veteran coach Gerald “Tgee” Gelacio.

Chammy1, Juschie, Aaron, and Goldenk1te have represented the Philippines in regional Wild Rift competitions, having achieved the gold medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2023. Chaazz, meanwhile, last played Wild Rift for The 300.

The move comes as Blacklist International also announced the formal disbandment of its League of Legends: Wild Rift team, which is a partnership with G2 Esports.

“Due to the change of direction for the Wild Rift League in the APAC region, we have made changes for a sustainable future for our team and players,” Blacklist International said in its statement. “After Riot made its announcement on the future of the WRL, putting our players and team staff first was our top priority. In this transition period, we supported them financially and guided them in exploring options in other game titles. Official announcements regarding the next steps of their careers will be shared soon.”

Other key Wild Rift players such as Karl Ken “KARLLL” Bautista, Reniel “Dr4w” Angara, and Sean “emae” Baguino, were not absorbed into the HOK lineup and were let go.

This is the organization’s first foray into Honor of Kings, which will be part of the 2024 Esports World Cup.

Blacklist International and G2 Esports are two of the 30 teams selected for the Esports World Cup Club Support Program, which gives teams a one-time six-figure stipend if an organization is willing to enter new esports as well as additional funding each year if they drive viewership and fan engagement to the Esports World Cup. They are also the only Philippines-based organization that got access to the said club support program.

“The Club Support Program is critical to the EWC Foundation’s vision of building a stronger esports ecosystem and elevating esports as global sports,” Esports World Cup foundation CEO Ralf Reichert earlier said.