Latest news with #S8UL
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Indian Esports Eyes PC Gaming Growth As eFootball, Street Fighter, & Rocket League Join Medal Lineup At Asian Youth Games 2025
The 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) is set to feature eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League as official medal events, each to be contested in both boys' and girls' categories. Scheduled to be held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025, the tournament will include 24 sports disciplines, with esports making its debut as an official medal event. Open to athletes aged between 15 and 18 years as of December 31, 2025, the esports competitions will be governed by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). The inclusion of these PC-based esports titles presents a promising opportunity for India to develop its esports ecosystem at the grassroots level. Earlier this year, esports made significant strides nationally when the Khelo India Youth Games featured titles such as BGMI, Street Fighter 6, eFootball, and chess as demonstration sports. With continued exposure at events of this scale, young gamers from across the country now have clearer pathways to enter competitive esports. The recognition of esports as an official discipline in international multi-sport tournaments is not only boosting credibility but also establishing it as a viable career path in India. Organizations like S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, have pushed the envelope worldwide. S8UL is set to be the first and only organisation representing India at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, as it competes across eight different titles and further demonstrates the country's growing presence on the global esports stage. Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL, shared his thoughts on the development, 'It's a proud moment to see esports take the global stage at the Asian Youth Games with titles like Street Fighter, eFootball, and Rocket League being officially recognised. This is just the beginning for the players, community and for the future of competitive gaming. As someone who's grown with this industry, seeing young athletes now get this platform at such a prestigious multi-sport event feels incredibly special, it's history in the making. This recognition will inspire a whole new generation of talent and help shape the path ahead for esports not just in India, but across Asia.' The fact that all three games featured at AYG 2025 are PC-based titles marks an important development for India, where mobile gaming has historically dominated. Momentum for PC gaming is steadily growing, with key players investing in infrastructure and accessibility. CyberPowerPC India, which entered the country last year, has been at the forefront of this movement. The company recently partnered with Indian esports organization Orangutan to power their state-of-the-art gaming facility, ApeCity, with high-performance PCs. "It's exciting to see prominent PC titles take centre stage at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, a clear sign that competitive gaming in Asia is evolving in the right direction. Globally, PC has always been a benchmark for esports, and this moment places Asia firmly on that map. For India, this is an opportunity to double down on building a more inclusive and performance-ready grassroots ecosystem. By creating accessible spaces like our PC installation at Ape City, we're helping young gamers experience top-tier hardware and realize their potential without the barriers. This milestone isn't just validation; it's motivation to keep growing the next generation of esports athletes." said Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India. The Asian Youth Games isn't the only platform where esports is gaining prominence. Esports will also feature at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled for next year, where 11 esports titles will be official medal events. India had earlier competed in four titles at the Asian Games 2022, and the country is now gearing up for a stronger showing in its next campaign. Pravan Parikh, Co-Founder & Product Lead of Dirtcube Interactive LLP, which launched India's first-of-its-kind gaming backend platform Specter, shares his perspective on what this means for India, 'The inclusion of esports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 is a landmark moment for young gamers in India. It brings structure and recognition to a dream that many aspiring players have long held. Crucially, this move gives PC gaming a significant boost in a market where mobile has historically been dominant, opening up fresh opportunities for skill development, talent discovery, and long-term career growth. It's an encouraging sign that esports is finally being embraced as a serious discipline within the larger sporting ecosystem.' As India prepares to compete at the AYG 2025, the recognition of esports alongside traditional sports is becoming increasingly mainstream. With growing investment, improved infrastructure, and stronger national representation, India is on the path to becoming not just a participant, but a serious contender in global esports. Listen to the latest songs, only on
News18
2 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Indian Esports Eyes Growth As PC Games Join Asian Youth Games 2025 Medal Lineup
Last Updated: Esports was announced as an official medal event at the Asian Youth Games, which will take place in Bahrain from October 22 to 31, 2025 The 3rd Asian Youth Games (AYG) will feature eFootball, Street Fighter, and Rocket League as official medal events in both boys' and girls' categories. Scheduled to take place in Bahrain from 22 to 31 October 2025, the tournament will include 24 sports disciplines, with esports making its debut as an official medal event. Open to athletes aged 15 to 18 years as of 31 December 2025, the esports competitions will be governed by the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF). The inclusion of these PC-based esports titles presents a promising opportunity for India to develop its esports ecosystem at the grassroots level. Earlier this year, esports made significant strides nationally when the Khelo India Youth Games featured titles such as BGMI, Street Fighter 6, eFootball, and chess as demonstration sports. With continued exposure at events of this scale, young gamers from across the country now have clearer pathways to enter competitive esports. Recognising esports as an official discipline in international multi-sport tournaments boosts its credibility and establishes it as a viable career path in India. Organisations like S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, have pushed the boundaries worldwide. S8UL will be the first and only organisation representing India at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, competing across eight different titles and further demonstrating the country's growing presence on the global esports stage. Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented on the development, saying, 'It's a proud moment to see esports take the global stage at the Asian Youth Games with titles like Street Fighter, eFootball, and Rocket League being officially recognised." He believes this is just the beginning for the players, the community, and the future of competitive gaming. The fact that all three games featured at AYG 2025 are PC-based titles marks an important development for India, where mobile gaming has historically dominated. Momentum for PC gaming is growing, with key players investing in infrastructure and accessibility. CyberPowerPC India, which entered the country last year, has been at the forefront of this movement. The company recently partnered with Indian esports organisation Orangutan to power their state-of-the-art gaming facility, ApeCity, with high-performance PCs. Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India, expressed excitement about prominent PC titles taking centre stage at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025, viewing it as a sign that competitive gaming in Asia is evolving in the right direction. He emphasised that creating accessible spaces like their PC installation at ApeCity helps young gamers experience top-tier hardware and realise their potential. Esports will also feature at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, scheduled for next year, where 11 esports titles will be official medal events. India had earlier competed in four titles at the Asian Games 2022 and is now gearing up for a stronger showing in its next campaign. Pravan Parikh, Co-Founder and Product Lead of Dirtcube Interactive LLP, which launched India's first-of-its-kind gaming backend platform Specter, views the inclusion of esports at the 3rd Asian Youth Games 2025 as a landmark moment for young gamers in India. He believes it brings structure and recognition to a dream that many aspiring players have long held and sees it as an encouraging sign that esports is finally being embraced as a serious discipline within the larger sporting ecosystem. As India prepares to compete at the AYG 2025, the recognition of esports alongside traditional sports is becoming increasingly mainstream. With growing investment, improved infrastructure, and stronger national representation, India is on the path to becoming not just a participant but a serious contender in global esports.
Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
All you need to know about Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), the final qualification path for chess at Esports World Cup 2025
The 'Last Chance Qualifier' LCQ — the final qualification path for chess at the Esports World Cup (EWC) — has been announced recently, as the Dreamhack Dallas 2025 event will act as the LCQ, filling up the last four spots for the EWC 2025. The DreamHack festival, set to happen from May 23 to 23 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centre in Dallas, is an open-to-all event where any professional or amateur player can participate and confirm their spot for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital city, where the EWC 2025 will take place. Earlier, 12 players were finalised in the EWC roster for chess through the two-leg Champions Chess Tour 2025. Five-time world champion and world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, world No. 3 and popular Twitch and YouTube streamer Hikaru Nakamura and reigning co-world blitz champion Ian Nepomniachtchi qualified for EWC after finishing in the top three of CCT's first event, the Chessable Masters, which was played in February. Nine other players, including India's Arjun Erigaisi — the only player from this country — confirmed their spots through the second leg of CCT, the Classic 2025. R. Praggnanandhaa missed out on qualification just by a whisker, and alongside him, players like Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin — both of whom signed with an Indian Esports organisation, S8UL — and current world champion D. Gukesh might try their luck to qualify for the lucrative EWC through the LCQ. The EWC will offer prize money of $1.5 million (12.8 cr) with a time control set to be 10 minutes for the entire game with no increment(10+0). What is the Esports World Cup? The Esports World Cup brings together top esports clubs across 24 popular titles. EWC 2025 will run in Riyadh from July 7 to August 24, featuring chess as an online event for the first time. The inaugural 2024 edition spanned eight weeks, while the 2025 event will be history's largest multi-title esports tournament with 2,000+ players, 200+ teams, and a $70 million (≈₹602 crore) prize pool. How can one register and participate in LCQ?
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First Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Arjun Erigaisi becomes first Indian chess player to qualify for upcoming Esports World Cup
Indian Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, who had joined leading Esports organisation Gen.G in February, secured his qualification for the second edition of the Esports World Cup by qualifying for the playoffs of the Classic, the second event of the Champions Chess Tour. read more Arjun Erigaisi became the first Indian chess player to qualify for the Esports World Cup that will be taking place in Saudi Arabia later this year. The 21-year-old Grandmaster confirmed his participation in the upcoming event by finishing among the top 12 players in the Champions Chess Tour. Arjun confirmed his ticket to the Saudi capital, which will be hosting the second edition of the Esports World Cup from 8 July to 24 August this year, by advancing to the playoffs of the Classic – the second event of the Champions Chess Tour that got underway on Sunday and will conclude on Saturday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD How Arjun secured his qualification for the Esports World Cup Arjun had already collected 40 CCT points with a semi-final finish in the Chessable Masters event that took place in February, where he lost to eventual champion Magnus Carlsen. And by advancing to the playoffs of the Classic, Arjun ensured that he finishes among the top 12 in the CCT leaderboard. A total of 16 players will be participating in chess section of the Esports World Cup ; while 12 players qualify on the basis of their standings, the remaining four will have to confirm their place in the tournament by participating in a 'Last Chance Qualifier'. Polish GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda too confirmed his participation at the EWC along with Arjun by entering the Classic playoffs in addition to collecting 50 points in the first leg of the tour. World No 1 Carlsen as well as Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi had already qualified for the World Cup before the second leg of the tour even began. Exclusive | Arjun Erigaisi 'excited' to participate in ESports World Cup: 'It will open many doors' Reigning world champion D Gukesh received a direct invitation into the Classic playoffs, only to lose to Slovenian GM Vladimir Fedoseev, who had won the Swiss round of the tournament with 7.5 points out of 9. He would lose his subsequent match in the loser's bracket against Arjun, who in turn would get vanquished by French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in his subsequent game. Arjun and Gukesh weren't the only Indians competing in the second leg of the Champions Chess Tour though, with R Praggnanandhaa, Vidit Gujrathi, Nihal Sarin and M Pranesh having also taken part. Arjun, incidentally, was also among the first chess players to join an Esports organisation, having signed with Gen.G in February. Nihal and Aravindh Chithambaram would join Indian Esports organisation S8UL a couple of months later. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Arjun Erigaisi becomes first Indian chess player to qualify for Esports World Cup 2025
Arjun Erigaisi became the first Indian chess player to confirm his qualification for the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 through the second leg of the Champions Chess Tour. After finishing fourth in a field of 118 players in the Play-in Swiss stage with 7.0/9, he chose Daniil Dubov as his opponent for the next round, which was Match Play. The EWC 2025 will be played in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Earlier, Slovenia's Vladimir Fedoseev won the nine-round Swiss, which had a time control of 10+0. Arjun beat Dubov 2.0 with both White and Black pieces in the two-legged Match Play, ensuring his qualification for the EWC after qualifying for the Playoffs round. Praggnanandhaa also finished on equal points as Arjun in the Swiss format before taking on the USA's Grigoriy Oparin in the Match Play round. The Superbet Chess Classic winner, Pragg, handed Oparin a 1.5-0.5 loss in the Match Play before losing the Playoffs round to former World Champion China's Ding Liren. Arjun was also one of the first players to join an Esports organisation. He signed the deal with Gen.G. Earlier, Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram also signed contracts with the Indian Esports organisation S8UL. The reigning World Champion, D. Gukesh, who was invited directly to the Playoffs stage, made a quick exit after losing to Fedoseev in the very first round of the winners' bracket. He then lost to compatriot Arjun in the loser's bracket as well. Apart from Arjun, Jan Krzysztof Duda, Magnus Carlsen, Ian Nepomniachtchi, and Hikaru Nakamura have confirmed their qualification. As far as Indians are concerned, no one apart from Arjun has yet qualified for EWC. The top 12 players from CCT will be joined by four players through a 'Last Chance Qualifier' (LCQ) event, which will be played closer to EWC to make a total of 16 players who will be in action at the finale in Saudi Arabia later this year. Arjun reached the semifinals of the first CCT event — 2025 Chessable Masters — to gain 40 crucial points in the overall leaderboard, and his knockout qualification in the 2025 Classic helped him to get enough points to stay in the top 12. The Esports World Cup will be an event where the world's biggest esports clubs compete across 24 of the most popular esports titles. For the first time, the World Cup will also feature chess, which will be played online. The first edition of the Esports World Cup was held in 2024 and saw teams compete over eight weeks. The Esports World Cup 2025 is set to be the largest multi-title esports event in history which is expected to have at least 2,000 players and 200 teams competing for a combined prize pool of $70 million (approx. Rs 602 crore). Champions Chess Tour is an online chess event that started in 2020 and was named the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. The $1 million prize pool Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour had four super tournaments, and the winners of each tournament played in the finals for the prize money. The event evolved over time, with a lot of invitations being handed out and qualification paths created to make it a more open tournament where anyone can have a shot at playing the tournament. The standard four tournaments with one final set-up continued till 2024 before it was tweaked to accommodate the qualification path for the Esports World Cup 2025. This time, only two legs will be played in the Champions Chess Tour 2025 instead of four legs, with the Esports World Cup acting as a replacement for the Tour Finals of CCT. 12 players will qualify for the EWC from these two online events. The CCT has three stages: A Qualifier will have nine rounds in a Swiss system that any non-Grandmaster-titled player can complete, and the top three advance to the Play-In. In the Play-In, the top three players from the Qualifier meet Grandmaster-titled players, where they play another nine rounds of the Swiss format tournament. 1 player, who finished on top of the standings, directly advances to the Playoffs, whereas players ranked 2nd to 15th move to Match Play. In the seven two-round matches in the Match Play, players ranked second to eighth choose their opponents from the bottom half (9th to 15th) for a face-off. The seven winners move to the Playoffs. The seven winners from Match Play and the topper of Play-In are joined by 8 invited players to play in the Playoffs round, a double-elimination bracket event. The winner's bracket will have four games per round, whereas the losers' bracket will have two.
