logo
S8UL announces EA FC roster for Esports World Cup, signs eChampions League winner Jonny

S8UL announces EA FC roster for Esports World Cup, signs eChampions League winner Jonny

The Hindu13-05-2025
S8UL has roped in eChampions League and virtual Bundesliga winner Jonas Wirth and Mexican champion Aaron Rivera for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025, the Indian esports organisation announced on Tuesday.
'Jonny' Wirth won the virtual Bundesliga Club Championship, the Grand Final and the eChampions League last season, with all the titles featuring Electronic Arts' FIFAe, which is now called EA FC 24.
Jonny also finished in the top 16 at the FIFAe World Cup 2023 and the FC Pro 24 World Championship, with total career earnings of approximately USD 196,150 (approx. INR 1.6 crore).
He has spent most of his professional career at the esports wings of two German football clubs, Vfl Bochum (Bundesliga) and SC Paderborn (Bundesliga 2).
'It's a great opportunity to represent such a passionate and growing organisation on the global stage. I'm looking forward to what we can achieve together at the Esports World Cup and beyond,' Jonny said.
Meanwhile, Mexican 'HappYMeaL664' Rivera represented Mexico in the FIFAe Nations Series 2023 and recently achieved an impressive feat by winning three consecutive FC Pro 25 Open Cup titles in the LATAM North region across November, December, and January.
His gameplay has delivered unforgettable moments, including a dramatic last-minute winner in the FC Pro Open Global Qualifier to seal a 5-4 victory. He has previously represented teams such as Essentials Gaming, AJM Esports, and CD Leganés.
S8UL became the first Indian esports organisation to be selected as a club partner for the 2025 Esports World Cup, set to be played in Saudi Arabia between July 8 to August 24.
'Joining S8UL is a big move, and I'm all in. Representing this team on the world stage means a lot, and I'm ready to bring my best to EAFC this season. Big goals ahead—let's make it happen,' Rivera said.
The organisation, a popular name in Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Pokémon UNITE, has ventured into new titles, announcing rosters for five titles at the Esports World Cup, and more are expected soon.
'The addition of Jonny and Happy to our roster reflects our commitment to competing with the best on the international stage. They've already made waves not just in their respective regions but across the global EAFC scene,' Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, said.
S8UL roster for Esports World Cup 2025:
Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy)
Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda)
Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
EA SPORTS FC: Jonas Wirth (Jonny) and Aaron Rivera (Happy)
Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

'Would have stayed quiet for Gukesh as well': Magnus Carlsen fires another shot at world champion
'Would have stayed quiet for Gukesh as well': Magnus Carlsen fires another shot at world champion

First Post

timean hour ago

  • First Post

'Would have stayed quiet for Gukesh as well': Magnus Carlsen fires another shot at world champion

Magnus Carlsen won the first-ever chess event at Esports World Cup, defeating Alireza Firouzja in the final. Meanwhile, the World No. 1 took another jibe at Gukesh while playing a fun game on social media. read more World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen has won the first-ever Chess Esports World Cup, defeating Alireza Firouzja by winning the final three games in the Grand Final. Carlsen not only walked away with the $250,000 prize money, but also helped Team Liquid take a lead in the overall team championship. In the third-place match, GM Hikaru Nakamura beat GM Arjun Erigaisi 3.5-2.5 in a thrilling contest. While Carlsen's win was a big moment, his rivalry with Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh is what's grabbing headlines again. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the Esports World Cup, Carlsen took another dig at world champion Gukesh during a fun challenge. He was asked to stay silent until he heard the name of a player better than him. He didn't react to names like Bobby Fischer, but finally spoke when Garry Kasparov was mentioned. Carlsen's jibe at Gukesh Later, when the clip was shared on Instagram, Carlsen commented, 'Would have stayed quiet for Gukesh as well.' The comment was clearly a jibe at Gukesh and has sparked reactions online. This isn't the first time things have heated up between the two. Earlier this year at Norway Chess, Gukesh beat Carlsen in one of the rounds. The loss frustrated Carlsen so much that he slammed the table, and the video quickly went viral. Although Gukesh had beaten Carlsen in that round, the five-time world champion had the last laugh by winning the title. Carlsen later said Gukesh still isn't at his level and also called him a 'weaker opponent' before the start of the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz tournament. Gukesh defeated Carlsen once again and finished on top in the rapid section of the tournament. However, Carlsen bounced back brilliantly to claim the main title in the end. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Carlsen has once again shown why he is considered the best in the world by winning the inaugural chess event at the Esports World Cup.

‘Maybe we can get a bigger stage next time': Magnus Carlsen wins 1st ever chess title at Esports World Cup
‘Maybe we can get a bigger stage next time': Magnus Carlsen wins 1st ever chess title at Esports World Cup

Indian Express

time2 hours ago

  • Indian Express

‘Maybe we can get a bigger stage next time': Magnus Carlsen wins 1st ever chess title at Esports World Cup

Magnus Carlsen won the chess event at the Esports World Cup at Riyadh after defeating Alireza Firouzja in the final. Thanks to Carlsen's victory, his outfit at the Esports World Cup, Team Liquid, took the lead in the overall championship standings. And right after creating history, Carlsen with a grin told the Esports World Cup organisers that maybe next time the chess event could be held on an 'even bigger stage'. 'I'm very, very, very happy. A little bit relieved as well, like there was a point in the second set where I just felt like I let him (Alireza) back in the match for for no reason. But overall, I'm happy with the way that I played and especially the way that I pressured him on the clock,' Carlsen said after winning the title. 'Not only playing, but also watching the others. It's been an amazing show. Um like unlike anything that I've seen so far. It's just been a joy and I really hope that this is a big part of the future for for chess.' Carlsen added: 'One more thing, maybe we can get on an even bigger stage next time cause it seems like there was enough enough people who wanted to get in. But it's been awesome. I'm really thankful to the EWC for believing in chess, for Team Liquid for believing in me as well.' After the win, Carlsen was whisked away by the organisers in a golf buggy to another venue where he was handed a triangular key to insert in a totem to cement his name as a Esports World Cup champion. Asked at the press conference if he will be back next year, Carlsen said with a smile: 'As long as I know how the pieces move, I will try (to play) and do my very best in the in the EWC for years to come.' — Team Liquid (@TeamLiquid) August 1, 2025 Carlsen was also offered the chance to pick triangular keys of any three players from the 16-player chess tournament to add to his trophy. He said he would pick the two Falcon players he defeated in the semis and final — Hikaru Nakamura and Alireza — but was open to suggestions about the third one. 'New ground conquered, it's been an absolute thrill and joy from start to finish,' Carlsen posted on his X account after taking the title and an eyewatering prize money cheque of $250,000 (approximately Rs 2.1 crore). The final match of chess' debut at the Esports World Cup was held as a best of three sets event: three four-game sets. The third set was never needed as Carlsen defeated Firouzja 2-0 with identical 3-1 victories in the first two sets. This year, Carlsen has already won the Norway Chess tournament in the classical format and the SuperUnited Rapid and Blitz tournament in Zagreb besides winning one leg of the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Tour earlier this year.

'New ground conquered': World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen after winning inaugural Esports Chess World Cup title
'New ground conquered': World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen after winning inaugural Esports Chess World Cup title

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

'New ground conquered': World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen after winning inaugural Esports Chess World Cup title

World No. 1 Grandmaster (GM) has added yet another accolade to his storied career, this time in an entirely new arena. The five-time world champion clinched the inaugural Esports Chess World Cup title, representing Team Liquid in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Carlsen, 34, pocketed $250,000 in prize money and described the experience as 'an absolute thrill and joy from start to finish.' Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Carlsen declared, "New ground conquered, it's been an absolute thrill and joy from start to finish," signalling the growing fusion of traditional board games with modern competitive esports. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. The Esports World Cup (EWC), one of the largest multi-game tournaments globally, featured chess for the first time this year, alongside titles like Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Street Fighter. While the decision to include chess in an esports setting initially sparked debate, organisers defended it by highlighting chess's vast global digital footprint. Carlsen's path to the title wasn't without competition. Several elite grandmasters participated, and the format, involving group stages and playoffs, brought a fresh twist to the classic game. In the final, Carlsen overcame world number eight Alireza Firouzja, once again demonstrating his dominance even outside traditional tournament formats. Competitors played live on stage, seated at computers, wearing heart-rate monitors, and surrounded by fans, sponsors, and commentary, a stark contrast to the quiet halls of classical chess tournaments. Carlsen, who has long championed modernising the sport, welcomed the experience: 'It's been an amazing show, unlike anything I've seen so far... I hope this is a big part of the future of chess.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store