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Team Liquid, Ninjas In Pyjamas, ENCE, and BIG join $350,000 Skyesports Masters 2024 in India
Mumbai: Skyesports, the premier esports tournament organiser based in India catering to gamers across Asia, has officially announced the initial lineup of invited Counter-Strike 2 teams set to compete in the highly anticipated Skyesports Masters 2024, as the company eyes global expansion. Scheduled to unfold offline in India from 8 to 14 April, this thrilling event promises a week-long spectacle of intense Counter-Strike action, as eight formidable teams lock horns to become the ultimate masters and for a share of the staggering $350,000 prize pool.
Among the distinguished participants revealed in this first wave of invitations are some of the most renowned names in Counter-Strike esports:
1 Team Liquid
2 Ninjas In Pyjamas
3 ENCE
4 BIG
Team Liquid and Ninjas In Pyjamas are two of the most notable names in Counter-Strike esports, with the latter being a Major winning organisation. Furthermore, ENCE is a world-famous team from Poland, headlined by the 4-time Major winning player, Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander. Last but not least, Germany’s BIG will also be competing in the Skyesports Masters with a stellar lineup.
The four teams will be joined by two more invited teams and the champion of the Europe Qualifiers. Finally, the champion of the India Qualifier will also compete in the Skyesports Masters 2024, providing the home fans with a local team to rally behind. The details for the Europe and India Qualifiers will be revealed at a later date. With the final eight teams, fans are set to be treated with intense Counter-Strike esports action as the world’s best lock horns for the title. Stay tuned to Skyesports’ Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook handles for more information.
With notable teams participating, a $350,000 prize pool, and a seven-day LAN event, the Skyesports Masters is set to feature nail-biting Counter-Strike esports action for fans. The eight teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket to determine the champion.
The Skyesports Masters is a part of Skyesports’ 2024 roadmap for Counter-Strike 2, which includes a total prize pool of $1 million across six international tournaments, as Skyesports solidifies its presence in the global esports roadmap for the FPS. The first of these is the Skyesports Grand Slam 2024, set to take place in Pune, India from March 14 to 16 with four teams – one from India, one from Australia, and two invited international teams – locking horns for a chunk of the $50,000 prize pool.
Besides the Skyesports Grand Slam and the Skyesports Masters, Skyesports will be bringing the Championship 6.0, Skyesports Souvenir Colombo, Skyesports Global Tour in Thailand, and the India vs Pakistan Series in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The Skyesports Masters was launched in 2023 with an impressive $240,000 prize pool. In its first year, eight esports organizations competed across a month-long regular season leading into the Playoffs in Bangalore, India for the title. Now, the premium IP is being expanded in 2024 with a bigger prize pool and international teams.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
