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The Codebreakers dispel their game seven demons to earn their first major trophy.
Ayala Malls Trinoma was filled with cheers as Blacklist International can finally hold their heads high as they are the PKL 2025 Fall champions. The boys in black and white were finally able to triumph over rivals BOOM Esports after a harrowing seven-game series.
The regular season was more or less smooth sailing for Blacklist. They shared the top spot with BOOM, with BOOM edging ahead thanks to a better game record. By all accounts, it looked like it was going to be a duel between these two titans for the right to call themselves the PKL 2025 Fall champions.
Right at the start of the playoffs, Blacklist were looking unstoppable. They dealt a swift 3-0 to A.C.T. Esports Club before getting a convincing 3-1 victory over BOOM at the upper bracket finals. The reigning PKL champs were undeterred, however, as BOOM would 3-0 Elevate in the lower bracket finals.
At the start of the grand finals, many believed there were only two possible outcomes to this revenge match. Either Blacklist would overwhelm BOOM with another clean sweep, or it would go the full distance with BOOM coming out on top once again. It certainly looked like the latter was going to happen as both teams were taking match after match.
Bucking the Trend
When the grand finals reached game seven, and the PKL championship would once again be decided through an Ultimate Battle, there was stillness in the air on Blacklist’s side.
The first time they were in an Ultimate Battle, they lost to Noongshim Redforce at the 2025 HoK Invitational. Then they lost their second Ultimate Battle against BOOM in the grand finals of PKL 2025 Spring. There was almost an expectation that Blacklist would choke in high-pressure moments like this, but they proved everyone wrong.
In what was one of the fastest games in the entire playoffs, Blacklist overpowered BOOM esports. They’ve proven that they can overcome their demons and that they deserve to be the PKL 2025 Fall champions.
Banner photo from Level Infinite.