Nongshim RedForce completed a dramatic comeback against Blacklist International, securing a 3-4 victory in the Honor of Kings Invitational S3 Manila Knockout Stage. The South Korean squad overcame a 3-0 deficit to eliminate the last Filipino team in the tournament and set up a finals clash against Nova Esports.
Why it Matters: Blacklist International had the home crowd behind them, but Nongshim RedForce’s resilience proved unstoppable. The match extended to a Game 7 Ultimate Battle, where Nongshim sealed their place in the grand finals.
Knockout Stage Results (February 28)
- Nova Esports (4-3) Team Vitality
- Blacklist International (3-4) Nongshim RedForce
Nongshim’s Comeback Stuns Blacklist
The match started in Blacklist International’s favor, dominating the first three rounds. But Nongshim found their breakthrough in Game 4, regaining confidence and pushing the series to a decider. Despite the Filipino crowd’s energy, Nongshim thrived in the high-pressure environment.
At the post-match press conference, Nongshim RedForce expressed excitement at turning the match around, with one player saying, “Breaking through in Game 4 gave us the momentum. We wanted to show our best for the crowd, it made us excited even if they weren’t cheering for us at first.”
Blacklist International admitted they lost focus after Game 3, rushing their plays instead of controlling the tempo. However, they praised the Ultimate Battle format in Game 7, stating that it allowed teams to highlight their best players in a high-stakes showdown.
With the victory, Nongshim RedForce advances to face Nova Esports. After securing their own spot, Nova kept their response simple: “We play like how we always play.”
Will Nongshim complete their dominant run, or will Nova reign supreme? The grand finals of Honor of Kings Invitational S3 Manila will occur on March 1, Saturday, at 6 PM. Watch Nova Esports vs. Nongshim RedForce live on the Honor of Kings Esports YouTube Channel and Facebook pages.
