Travel Disruptions Force Three Elite Teams to Withdraw from Honor of Kings Major League Spring 2026

Three teams exit Honor of Kings Major League Spring 2026 due to airspace closures. Tournament schedule holds for March 12 start.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 6:57 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Esports Insider

International Transit Crisis Impacts Tournament Lineup

The Honor of Kings Major League Committee announced a significant shift in the 2026 Spring tournament roster following a series of insurmountable travel complications. Teams Astar Esports, Alpha7 Esports, and Leviatán are officially unable to participate due to disruptions affecting international flight routes and sudden airspace closures. According to an official statement from Level Infinite, these logistical barriers created a level of uncertainty regarding connecting flights that made the teams' arrival at the venue impossible. This development marks a rare instance where geopolitical or logistical external factors have directly altered the competitive field for a major mobile esports event.

The Loss of Regional Champions and Qualifiers

The withdrawal is particularly impactful given the high caliber of the affected organizations, all of whom earned their positions through rigorous regional qualifying series. Astar Esports recently secured their spot by winning the Open Series 2026 Split 5 in the MENA region, while Leviatán’s roster, competing under the name Los Pibes, dominated the LATAM South qualifier. Alpha7 Esports’ representative team, Rock Pirates, had also earned a slot through the Major League Spring Qualifier. The absence of these three dominant forces from the Middle East and Latin America removes a significant layer of international diversity from the competition, potentially altering the regional power balance of the tournament.

Consistency in Event Scheduling and Stakes

Despite the reduction in the total number of competing teams, the committee has decided to maintain the original tournament timeline. The event remains set to occur between March 12 and March 22, with teams competing for a total prize pool of $35,000. Beyond the immediate financial rewards, the stakes remain high as the tournament winner will secure an automatic qualification for the Honor of Kings World Cup 2026. This midseason world championship is scheduled to take place during the prestigious Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, making the Spring Major a critical gateway for global prestige.