During the King Pro League (KPL) Grand Finals, we spoke with Mike and Fabian from the Esports World Cup (EWC) Foundation, alongside James Yang from Level Infinite, about how Honor of Kings continues to drive mobile esports worldwide. From bridging markets between East and West to building global fanbases, the trio shared insights on the growth of competitive mobile gaming and the partnership that powers it.

The Role of Mobile Esports in the Global Scene

When asked about the role of mobile esports, especially Honor of Kings, Mike explained the importance of connecting with players worldwide. “Honor of Kings, obviously being a mobile title, is incredibly important to us. Mobile is the biggest gaming platform in the world, so it’s crucial that we have the biggest mobile titles as part of EWC,” he said.

Mike also highlighted the KPL’s success as a benchmark. “We know the incredible position that HoK has in China. But as we see its international growth, it helps us connect to more mobile players globally. And working with Tencent over the years has made reaching these players seamless.”

What Makes KPL Unique

On what differentiates the KPL from other esports competitions, Mike emphasized its scale and passionate fanbase. “The KPL is truly unique, not just locally but globally. We see a really diverse attendance from an audience standpoint, and the fandom is huge. That inspired us to create the Superfan program, bringing fans from clubs like AG.AL and FURIA to EWC events.”

Fabian added that the lessons of KPL extend beyond fandom: “We’re supporting the growth of clubs globally, ensuring that not only KPL clubs but also clubs worldwide achieve the same sustainability and scale.”

Building Strong Team Brands

Asked about fostering loyal fanbases and building sustainable teams, Fabian explained EWC’s multi-layered approach. “We bring together the best games, the best clubs, and life-changing prize money. This means different communities can come together, celebrate esports, and create opportunities where winning can truly change lives, especially for Southeast Asian players.”

Mike added that EWC takes cues from the KPL’s club model. “We put $20 million into the club program, supporting 40 clubs to build rosters and sustain growth. By helping clubs grow across multiple IPs, we can foster stronger, more diverse fanbases.”

The Impact of HoK in Saudi Arabia

On Honor of Kings’ influence in Saudi Arabia, Mike noted its role as a bridge between East and West. “The EWC HoK tournament introduced a new market to the IP and gave local fans the chance to see the best players in the world. Bringing together KPL stars and players from other regions creates a truly unique experience.”

The Tencent Partnership

When asked about the partnership with Tencent, Fabian emphasized its impact on growth and reach. “In just the second year of our three-year partnership, we saw 225% growth from year one to two, 350,000 onsite visits, and multi-million fan viewership. Tencent helps us reach hardcore esports fans and expand HoK fandom into new regions like Saudi Arabia.”

Mike added that Tencent’s local expertise is invaluable. “Their support helps optimize marketing, content, and broadcasts authentically for Chinese esports fans, something we couldn’t do internally.”

Why HoK Is Essential to EWC

James highlighted the strategic importance of Honor of Kings for the EWC. “I cannot even imagine EWC without HoK — it’s the most played mobile MOBA in the world and has generated massive revenue. This isn’t a short-term collaboration; we’ve been working with EWC for almost six years and will continue to do so. Both HoK and EWC benefit from each other, and together we can make esports even bigger globally.”

Expanding Honor of Kings Globally

When asked whether EWC has helped grow Honor of Kings in other countries, James confirmed its critical role. “Without EWC, many pro teams might not have even formed HoK squads. Teams often decide to join based on whether HoK will be in EWC, the prize pool, and the support offered. That support from EWC has been critical for expanding the ecosystem globally.”

The Inaugural Esports Nations Cup

The foundation unveiled a major milestone last August — the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), co-developed with Tencent. Mike explained the reasoning: “National fandom transcends team fandom, as we’ve seen with FIFA or the Olympics. When players wear their country’s flag, engagement skyrockets. ENC helps us reach a broader, more mainstream audience and bring new countries and players onto the global stage. Our goal is to rotate the event around the world after the first edition in Saudi Arabia next November.”

Fabian added the rationale for partnering with Tencent: “We follow the same philosophy as with EWC — bringing the biggest, most important games. Tencent is the logical partner to scale a high-quality AAA tournament quickly and effectively.”

Incentives for Nations and Players

Regarding potential incentives for national federations and players under ENC, Mike confirmed that structures are in progress. “We’re prioritizing securing games in a busy calendar. Some countries already have strong organizations; others don’t. We want to provide support so national players can train together, field their best rosters, and compete at a high level. Details will be shared once finalized.”

Bridging International and Chinese Players

James reflected on the lessons learned from collaboration between international and Chinese players. “Managing more than 20 titles in one place for continuous tournaments over two months is challenging. EWC’s ambitious approach has already improved production, viewership, and attendance. Seeing events firsthand in Riyadh helps international players understand the scale and quality. We’re learning how to work together, strengthen local communities, and integrate esports into national development plans, like in Saudi Arabia, where esports is a key pillar.”

Opportunities for Women in Esports

On opportunities for women to compete in HoK, James noted early initiatives: “HLK held the first female tournament in Malaysia this year. We aim to provide more chances for women to compete on big stages, and we’re working closely with EWC to build the ecosystem first.”

Mike highlighted learnings from KPL events: “Player welfare, player lounges, physio support, and broadcast reliability all inspire our events. Esports is a collaborative industry, and working with publishers ensures the whole ecosystem benefits.”

Fabian emphasized long-term inclusivity: “Mixed teams should be the standard. Women already compete at EWC, and we will continue supporting ecosystems where women exist. Where there’s no ecosystem, we work with publishers to build grassroots opportunities. Skill gaps may be small, but experience on the big stage is what women need more of, and we’re committed to creating that opportunity.”

Changing Perceptions of Esports as a Career

Finally, on how EWC and KPL influence perceptions of esports as a sustainable career, Mike pointed to Saudi Arabia as a model. “70% of the population identifies as gamers, and national strategies like the National Gaming and Esports Strategy legitimize the industry. EWC and ENC together demonstrate that competitive gaming can offer life-changing prize money and sustainable career paths. There are also careers in journalism, broadcast, content creation, coaching — players are central, but the ecosystem supports many paths.”

James added that KPL sets a global benchmark. “China’s gaming market is huge, HoK is the most popular game, and KPL is the most successful pro-league. Together, KPL represents best practices for esports globally.”