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A Historic Night for Esports at the Bird’s Nest
History was made in Beijing as the Honor of Kings World Championship Grand Final officially broke the Guinness World Record for the largest live attendance at an esports event. Held at China’s National Stadium, famously known as the Bird’s Nest, on Saturday, November 8, 2025, the event drew an astonishing 62,196 fans, setting a new benchmark for competitive gaming on the global stage.

Guinness World Record officials were present to verify the milestone in person, confirming that Honor of Kings has now claimed a record once held by Pro Evolution Soccer during its UEFA EURO 2016 fan event in Paris.

A Massive Crowd and a Massive Prize Pool

The Grand Final wasn’t just about record-breaking numbers. It also featured one of the biggest prize pools in mobile esports history, ¥70 million RMB (about $982,000 USD). The champions walked away with ¥20 million ($280,000), while the FMVP (Finals Most Valuable Player) earned exclusive in-game cosmetics, celebrating their standout performance.

The sold-out crowd was no surprise. On October 30, Tencent revealed that all tickets were gone within just 12 seconds of going on sale. Prices ranged from ¥488 ($69) for the grandstand seats to ¥2,088 ($293) for premium inner field spots, proving that the hype around Honor of Kings shows no signs of slowing down.

The Bird’s Nest Becomes a Beacon of Esports

Originally built for the 2008 Olympic Games, the Bird’s Nest has a capacity of 80,000 and has hosted some of the most iconic sporting moments in Chinese history. In esports, it’s also remembered as the stage for the League of Legends 2017 World Championship Final, an event that drew around 40,000 fans and featured the legendary Elder Dragon cinematic moment.

However, due to the elongated stage design and massive screen setup used for Honor of Kings, only about 75% of the venue’s full capacity was utilised. Even so, Tencent and TiMi Studios managed to fill more than 60,000 seats, making it the largest dedicated esports audience ever assembled.

All.Gamers Go Back-to-Back

The Grand Final itself was just as monumental as the crowd that witnessed it. Defending champions All.Gamers once again lifted the trophy, defeating Wolves Esports with a 4–2 victory to claim back-to-back titles.

Earlier this year, All.Gamers also took home the Honor of Kings World Champion title at the Esports World Cup in Saudi Arabia, solidifying their dominance in the mobile MOBA scene. Their latest win, in front of tens of thousands of roaring fans, marks a new era for both the team and the game.

A Landmark Weekend for Chinese Esports

China’s esports scene was thriving on all fronts this weekend. Alongside the Honor of Kings World Championship, the country also hosted two more major tournaments: the League of Legends Worlds 2025 Grand Final and Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu for Counter-Strike 2.

This convergence of high-profile competitions highlighted China’s growing influence as a global hub for esports, where massive audiences and cutting-edge production value are quickly becoming the standard.

Setting a New Global Standard

By achieving an attendance of over 62,000 dedicated fans, Honor of Kings has cemented its place as a global powerhouse in competitive gaming. Unlike the previous PES record, which included spectators attending a football match broadcast, this new Guinness title represents a true esports audience, gathered solely to celebrate one of the world’s most popular mobile games.

Honor of Kings World Championship Guinness Record

Image Credit: TiMi Studios / Tencent

From the Bird’s Nest to the world stage, Tencent and TiMi Studios have once again demonstrated that esports isn’t just a digital pastime, it’s a full-scale entertainment phenomenon capable of filling stadiums, breaking records, and captivating millions.