Latest news with #S8UL
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Celebrating Chess: The Ancient Indian Game Thriving In The Digital Era
The global success of the Netflix series The Queen's Gambit, coupled with the rapid growth of chess streamers on platforms like Twitch, and YouTube, has propelled chess into mainstream pop culture. Tournament series such as PogChamps, launched by in 2020, introduced chess to millions by featuring popular streamers and celebrities, each mentored by elite Grandmasters. Leading streaming personalities like Levy Rozman, known as GothamChess, and the Botez sisters, Alexandra and Andrea, have built massive followings on both Twitch and YouTube. Their accessible, educational, and entertaining style has made chess more engaging and relatable to younger audiences. Since then, online chess has seen explosive growth. In 2024 alone, recorded over 7.6 billion games played. The platform has surpassed 200 million registered users globally, with India contributing over 9 million monthly active players and adding an average of 550,000 new signups each month. Beyond gameplay, viewership numbers have soared, with chess amassing 925 million organic views this year, reflecting an incredible 640 percent year-on-year growth. With its easy-to-play format and accessibility anytime, anywhere, chess has cemented itself as a universal sport for the digital generation. This digital success naturally extended into the competitive esports world. The chess esports revolution accelerated in 2020 when world-renowned Grandmasters such as Qiyu Zhou, Hikaru Nakamura, and Andrew Tang joined established esports organizations like Counter Logic Gaming, Team SoloMid (TSM), and Cloud9 respectively, blending the traditions of chess with the excitement of competitive gaming. The momentum continued when the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and included chess in the inaugural Olympic Esports Week in 2023 in Singapore. This evolution reached a landmark moment with chess officially becoming part of the prestigious Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh, with Norwegian legend Magnus Carlsen serving as the tournament's ambassador. Organized in partnership with this year's EWC features a prize pool of $1.5 million, bringing together the world's top chess players to compete in the fast-paced 10+0 rapid format, while representing leading esports organizations from across the globe. Indian chess is making its presence felt on this grand stage. Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi, signed with global esports organization Gen.G, has already secured his place at EWC 2025 through the Champions Chess Tour. The final four spots will be decided through the Last Chance Qualifier from July 24 to 26, where top Indian players, including Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, will compete. Both Nihal and Aravindh have joined S8UL, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, to compete at EWC 2025. S8UL is the only Indian organization selected among the 40 elite global teams in the Esports World Cup Foundation's (EWCF) Club Partner Program. The organisation has earned its place to compete among the world's best in Apex Legends and EAFC, and will also be fighting for qualification in Tekken 8 through the Last Chance Qualifier, further expanding its presence across multiple esports titles. 'It's incredible to watch chess evolve from a quiet, traditional sport into a bold, global movement," said Sarin. 'Being part of S8UL has introduced me to the world of esports and content creation, opening up new ways to connect with people. Today, chess isn't just about strategy, it's about storytelling, culture, and community," the GM continued. 'I'm proud to be part of this exciting shift, as the game steps into a whole new era." Advertisement The chess esports revolution in India is also being championed by NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia's esports and gaming ecosystem. The company recently announced a strategic partnership with and ChessBase India aimed at building the future of chess esports in the country. This collaboration has already delivered remarkable success, most notably with the exclusive streaming of the recent World Chess Championship, where India's Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren to become the World Chess Champion. The event garnered over 24 million views, with peak concurrent viewership reaching 200,000. Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, Akshat Rathee, opined that 'The rise of online chess shows how even the most traditional games can reinvent themselves in a digital-first world. Chess has always stood for intellect and discipline, but with streaming, new formats, and structured esports competitions, it's now more accessible and entertaining than ever, especially for younger audiences." Over the years, NODWIN Gaming has consistently driven the mainstream growth of chess through innovative initiatives. The Chess Super League in 2021 brought together a unique mix of top international Grandmasters, leading Indian Grandmasters, International Masters, and promising junior players, offering fans a fresh, competitive, and entertaining viewing experience. Chess has also featured prominently at DreamHack Hyderabad, India's largest gaming festival, further reinforcing its place within the broader gaming and esports ecosystem. advetisement
News18
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
2025 Esports World Cup Kicks Off In Riyadh With A $70M Prize Pool
Last Updated: The 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) launched in Riyadh with a star-studded ceremony. Featuring over 2,000 players in 25 tournaments, the event boasts a $70 million prize pool. The opening press conference for the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) was held in Riyadh, signalling the commencement of the world's largest esports and gaming festival. The event launched on Thursday evening with a star-studded opening ceremony. Running until August 24, the festival features over 2,000 elite players competing in 25 tournaments across 24 leading titles, with a staggering prize pool exceeding 70 million U.S. dollars. Speaking at the press conference on Wednesday, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, stated: 'We are immensely proud to welcome back the world to Riyadh for the Esports World Cup. This event stands as a global milestone for esports by showcasing the scale, ambition, and future of competitive gaming." The 2025 EWC unites the top 200 clubs globally to compete in a cross-title format, a pioneering initiative, according to Xinhua. Central to the competition is the Club Championship, where teams gather points across multiple games to earn the title of EWC club champion. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, commented: 'The 2025 EWC is about bringing the gaming world together – iconic games, elite players, and millions of fans around a shared celebration." India's S8UL, a leading entity in esports and gaming content, has officially qualified for the grand finals of Apex Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and EAFC 25 at the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh. With a record-breaking prize pool of $70 million (approx. INR 598 crore), the EWC 2025 is poised to be one of the largest esports events in history. In Chess, Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will compete in the Last Chance Qualifier from July 24 to 26, while Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho) will participate in StarCraft II's EWC 2025: Global Qualifier on June 21 and 22. In the fighting games genre, S8UL's Marcoantonio Malpica (Yurikov) will compete in Fatal Fury, and Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino) will participate in Tekken 8 qualifiers. With IANS Inputs view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 11:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
United News of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- United News of India
iQOO becomes official title sponsor for S8UL's historic Esports World Cup 2025 campaign
Mumbai, July 7 (UNI) S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, today announced that iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand, has been onboarded as the official title sponsor for its Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 journey in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This strategic association marks one of the most significant brand commitments in the Indian esports space and builds on iQOO's ongoing association with S8UL's BGMI division, Team iQOO SOUL. As title sponsor, iQOO will be integrated across S8UL's team jerseys, on-ground activations, city events, and digital content throughout the Esports World Cup. As part of the collaboration, S8UL will also host weekly EWC watch parties, while the S8UL Gaming House will open its doors to fans, transforming into a dedicated fan hub during the tournament. The partnership with iQOO represents a powerful synergy between a high-performance, innovation-led brand and a high-performance team, both driven by excellence, fueled by ambition, and rooted in India, further reinforcing iQOO's commitment to supporting Indian esports on the global stage. Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL, said, 'Our journey with iQOO began almost two years ago with our BGMI roster and it's grown alongside our ambitions ever since. Partnering once again for the Esports World Cup 2025 is a significant step forward for both of us. Having iQOO as our title sponsor highlights our shared vision of growing Indian esports and competing with the best on the world stage. Together, we're proud to carry the hopes of an entire nation.' S8UL has officially qualified for the grand finals in Apex Legends and EAFC 25 at EWC 2025, making it the first Indian esports organisation to represent the country at one of the world's biggest esports tournaments, The organisation's Chess stars Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram will be competing in the Last Chance Qualifier from July 24 to 26, while EAFC player Aaron Rivera (Happy) will vie for one of the four remaining spots at the EWC in the FC Pro 25 Play-Ins. Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, commented, 'Esports in India is evolving rapidly, and we're proud to strengthen our association with S8UL as they represent India on one of the biggest international stages. Our collaboration reflects iQOO's focus on connecting with the performance centric community and supporting talent that's redefining competitive gaming in India.' Taking place from July 8 to August 24, the EWC 2025 features a record-breaking $70 million (approx. INR 598 crore) prize pool and hosts the world's best talent across console, PC, and mobile titles. S8UL's participation across different titles underscores the organization's depth, diversity, and ambition. As S8UL's global journey continues, the partnership with iQOO represents a powerful synergy between a high-performance brand and a high-performance team both driven by excellence, fueled by ambition, and rooted in India, according to a media statement. UNI BM
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Indian sports wrap, June 19: S8UL seals grand final spots in three titles of Esports World Cup
ESPORTS S8UL qualifies for grand finals in three titles at Esports World Cup 2025 Indian esports organisation S8UL has officially qualified for the grand finals of Apex Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), and EAFC 25 at the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Featuring a record-breaking prize pool of USD 70 million (approx. INR 598 crore), the EWC 2025 will be one of the biggest esports events in history. S8UL's Apex Legends squad, featuring Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), qualified for the EWC 2025 through the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2025: Split 1 Pro League for APAC South. Competing in a challenging triple round-robin format against 30 of the best teams from the region, the squad clinched its EWC spot by finishing in the top five with 109 points. The all-Australian line-up has a strong competitive track record, having competed at the inaugural EWC and several ALGS Championships, with team captain Sharky notably winning the ALGS Championship in 2022. The team now advances to the ALGS Midseason Playoffs, set to take place at the EWC from July 10 to 13, where 40 of the world's best teams will compete for a $2 million (INR 17.2 crore) prize pool. S8UL will also be representing India in EAFC 25 through Germany's Jonas Wirth (Jonny), who secured his spot by finishing in the top four of the Virtual Bundesliga 2024–25. After winning three of his four group stage matches, Jonny advanced to the playoffs, where he dominated the round of 16 and quarterfinals before narrowly missing out in the semifinals. A seasoned veteran, Jonny was the champion of both the Virtual Bundesliga and the eChampions League last year. He will now compete in the FC Pro 25 World Championship at the EWC from August 7 to 10, where 32 of the world's top players will battle for a $1.5 million (INR 12.5 crore) prize pool. Meanwhile, S8UL's Aaron Rivera (Happy) qualified for the FC Pro 25 Play-Ins following a dominant run in the LATAM North region, where he won three consecutive FC Pro 25 Open Cups. He will compete against 47 other top players for the four remaining spots at the EWC. S8UL's MLBB roster qualified for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at EWC 2025 after a commanding victory in the NACT Spring Season. The team, featuring Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1), was dominant throughout the tournament, defeating Area 77 with a 4–2 scoreline in the grand finals to secure their berth. BOXING 640 boxers to compete in Junior Boys and Girls' Nationals in Rohtak Both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls competitions at the sixth U-17 National Championships will feature 13 weight categories each. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Around 640 up-and-coming pugilists from across the country, including 350 boys and 290 girls, will face off in the sixth Junior (Under-17) Boys and Girls National Championships at the National Boxing Academy in Rohtak, Haryana, between June 19-26. Both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls competitions will feature 13 weight categories each, ranging from 44-46 kg to 80+ kg. The Services Sports Control Board will look to defend its title from the fifth Boys' Nationals, while Haryana enters as the defending champion in the Girls' category. 'The Junior National Championship is a crucial platform for young boxers to showcase their skills in front of national selectors and coaches. It plays a key role in helping BFI identify and nurture future talent. I am happy to see strong participation from all teams as we look to discover the next generation of Indian boxing stars. Many of these young boxers will represent India in the 2032 and 2036 Olympic Games, and therefore, this championship is of great importance,' said Ajay Singh, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president-chairperson, Interim Committee. 'This championship also comes before the Asian Youth Games in October this year, where, for the first time, boxing has been included. The winners from here will go on to represent India at these Asian Games, where 14 medals will be up for grabs. With robust systems already in place, BFI is committed to supporting these young athletes in realising their full potential,' he added. The gold and silver medallists of the REC Combined Talent Hunt (Junior Boys and Girls) held in October 2024 would be eligible to participate in the National Championships under the REC banner, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria of being born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The championships will be conducted as per the World Boxing Technical & Competitions Rules, wherein each bout will consist of three rounds of two minutes each, with a minute's rest in between. A ten-points-must scoring system shall be followed. -Team Sportstar ARCHERY Indian junior archers enter three finals at Asia Cup Stage 2 The Indian junior archers continued their dominating run by storming into three team finals at the Asia Cup Stage 2 in Singapore on Thursday. The Indian men's recurve team, seeded second, defeated fifth-seeded Bangladesh 5-1 in a one-sided semifinal to set up a summit clash with third seeds Japan. The trio of Vishnu Choudhary, Paras Hooda and Juyel Sarkar dominated from the outset, taking the opening set 55-48. Although the second set was tied at 55-55, the Indians bounced back strongly, dropping just one point in the third set to win it 59-56 and seal the issue. In the recurve mixed team event, Vaishnavi Pawar and Vishnu Choudhary defeated Singapore's Tabitha Ern Lin Yeo and Yue Long Li 5-3 to enter the final. The Indian pair won the first set 37-35, tied the second 37-all, and lost the third 36-38 to make it 3-3. But Pawar and Choudhary held their nerves to close out the match with a commanding 38-34 win in the final set. India also assured itself of a medal in the compound men's team event after the trio of Kushal Dalal, Ganesh Thirumuru, and Mihir Apar edged past fifth-seeded Australia in a tense semifinal decided by a shoot-off (30-29) after both teams were tied at 232 after four sets. India will take on Kazakhstan in the final. The top-seeded Indian compound women's team, comprising Shanmukhi Budde, Tejal Salve, and Tanishka Thokal, defeated fourth-seeded Kazakhstan 230-229 in a nail-biting semifinal to ensure another medal. They will meet Malaysia in the final. The top-seeded Indian compound mixed team pairing of Shanmukhi and Kushal also confirmed another medal by defeating Indonesia's Nurisa Dian Ashrifah and Prima Wisnu Wardhana 155-154 in a nail-biting semifinal. They will face third-seeded Kazakhstan in the final. However, there was heartbreak for the Indian women's recurve team. Seeded fifth, the troika of Vaishnavi Pawar, Kirti, and Tamanna lost a thrilling quarterfinal to fourth seeds Japan 4-5 (26-28) in the shoot-off after a five-set battle. They lost the opening set 47-49 and slumped further after managing only 34 in the second set to Japan's 55. But the Indians showed great resilience to take the third set 55-53 and level the scores 4-4 after claiming the fourth set 54-52. In the shoot-off, Japan edged ahead by just two points. Indian archers are also in the hunt for four individual medals on the concluding day on Friday. The women's compound final will be an all-Indian affair, with Shanmukhi set to face Tejal for gold. In the men's compound section, India will be in the hunt in both the gold and bronze medal matches. Kushal will face Joshua Mahon of Australia for the gold, while Sachin Chechi will take on Himu Bachhar of Bangladesh for bronze. -PTI Related Topics Boxing Federation of India
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
S8UL signs three of India's Asian Games participants to compete in League of Legends
(Image via S8UL's "X" Account) S8UL becomes one of India's first to compete across 12 top esports titles. The team is set to compete in the upcoming Legends Ascend tournament where the winning team will qualify for the LOL Championship Pacific (LCP) Wildcard Playoffs. Mumbai, June 13, 2025: S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially announced its entry into League of Legends (LOL) by signing one of South Asia's leading rosters. The team features captain Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Ahmed Shahid (Nero), and Mihir Ranjan (Angelslotus) from India, along with Mehrab Uddin Ahmed (RTO) from Bangladesh and Tharuka Fernando (KratoZ) from Sri Lanka. The core roster has already established itself as a dominant force in South Asia. In a milestone achievement, Akshaj, Aakash, and Mihir represented India in LOL at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, where esports debuted as an official medal event. After topping the regional qualifiers, they advanced to the quarterfinals and secured a commendable fifth-place finish, competing against the best teams in Asia. Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, said, 'League of Legends is one of the most iconic esports titles in the world, and we believe this is the right moment for S8UL to step onto that stage. Our vision has always been to lead from the front, both in performance and in growing the ecosystem, and this move is a significant step in that direction. This roster has already shown what it's capable of, consistently dominating the regional circuit. Now that they are under the S8UL banner, we are excited to support them in their journey to greater heights and help pave the way for South Asia to make its mark in global League of Legends esports.' In 2024, under the banner of Temple of Kings, the roster won major titles including the Skyesports WD Black Cup 1 & 2, Pro League, and the SMG South Asia Cup 1, 2, and 3, in addition to TEC's July and August Opens. In 2025, they continued their winning streak with four tournament victories under Asterisk. The team now joins S8UL with a proven record of success, synergy, and regional pride. 'Joining S8UL is a defining moment for us. We've been grinding together for years, and to now be part of India's biggest esports organisation gives us the platform to take things to the next level. With the support S8UL brings, we're ready to prove our mettle at the highest level,' commented Akshaj 'Kat Bot' Shenoy, captain of S8UL's League of Legends team. The team is set to compete in Legends Ascend 2025, India's first publisher driven amateur LOL tournament. With a total prize pool of INR 10 lakhs, the tournament will culminate on August 3, and its champion will earn a coveted spot in the LOL Championship Pacific (LCP) Wildcard Playoffs which is the gateway to LCP's promotion and relegation tournament. S8UL's entry marks a bold move by the Indian organisation to dominate the regional circuit and reach the global stage. With this, S8UL strengthens its competitive roster portfolio, now fielding top-tier lineups across 12 premier esports titles. These include Apex Legends, Battlegrounds Mobile India, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, EAFC 25, Fatal Fury, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Pokémon UNITE, StarCraft II, Tekken 8, VALORANT, and now League of Legends. As the first and only Indian organization set to compete at the upcoming Esports World Cup in Riyadh, S8UL continues to build on its legacy of pioneering global representation for Indian esports.
