Gaming
Iqoo S8ul wins Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup
MOBA Legends squad bags Rs 12.5 lakh after 4-3 final thriller over Godlike from 1,024-team field.
MUMBAI: Iqoo S8ul just farmed the ultimate prize clutching a heart-stopping 4-3 grand final win over Godlike Esports to lift the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup crown in Kolkata on 18 February. The month-long MOBA Legends 5v5 showdown drew a massive 1,024 teams through open qualifiers in single-elimination Bo1 format, with just 16 powering into the main brackets. S8ul Esports’ powerhouse roster IGL Mohammad Saad (Apex), Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi), Mehta Jay (J), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), and Joseph Nehhunjang (Kakarot) sliced through Group A like a well-timed ultimate, 2-0 Bo3 quarterfinal rout of Megatron Esports, 3-1 Bo5 semifinal domination of PEAK, and a flawless 4-0 Bo7 sweep of Elusivity to storm the decider.
There, composure trumped chaos in a Bo7 nail-biter, netting the squad Rs 12.5 lakh and cementing S8UL’s stranglehold on India’s MOBA scene.
S8ul co-founder Animesh Agarwal beamed, “This victory is a testament to the structure and long-term vision we are building at S8ul. The Indian MOBA ecosystem is entering a new phase of growth… Wins like this validate our investment in building elite lineups.”
IGL Apex, fresh off MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024 at the Esports World Cup ($3 million pool), added, “Coming into this tournament with so many teams, we knew the margin for error would be extremely small… That grand final was one of the most intense series we’ve played as a team and this title belongs to everyone who believed in us.”
For esports newbies, it’s like watching chess on steroids strategy, split-second calls, and crowd-roaring comebacks. S8ul’s run? Pure legend fuel, priming them for bigger global scraps.
Gaming
Konami concludes successful eFootball India campaign
Campaign featuring Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and other stars boosts engagement ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
MUMBAI: When cricket meets football in the virtual world, even the biggest fans can’t help but score and Konami’s latest eFootball campaign in India has clearly hit the back of the net. Konami Digital Entertainment has successfully wrapped up its India campaign for eFootball, which brought together cricketers Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, actors Naslen Gafoor and Chandu Salim Kumar, and footballers Sahal Abdul Samad and Shubhasish Bose. The multi-star campaign generated strong excitement across gaming, football, and creator communities through social content, fan participation, and in-game engagement.
Building on the initial launch that featured a limited-time Lionel Messi card, the campaign united fan communities, lifestyle creators, football creators, and competitive eFootball influencers. It significantly expanded the game’s visibility and deepened engagement with fans across the country.
The campaign also saw thousands of entries submitted as part of its social media engagement challenge, reflecting high levels of community enthusiasm and active creator involvement.
Looking ahead, Konami plans to build on this momentum with more eFootball experiences for Indian fans as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches. With global attention on the tournament set to rise, India will remain a key market for deepening community engagement and bringing fans closer to the action.
In a country that lives and breathes sport, Konami has shown that mixing real-world stars with virtual thrills is a winning formula leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next goal.
