Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
Gaming
S8UL to compete across 13 titles at Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh
The Mumbai-based outfit’s largest-ever global campaign comes with a $75m prize pool on the line
MUMBAI: India’s biggest esports organisation is going all in. S8UL, the Mumbai-headquartered esports and gaming content group, has announced it will enter qualification pathways across 13 titles at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026, the highest number of titles ever attempted by an Indian organisation at a global esports tournament.
The titles span the full breadth of competitive gaming: Apex Legends, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, EA Sports FC, Fatal Fury, Fortnite, Honor of Kings, MOBA Legends 5v5, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and Trackmania. Together, they cover PC, console, and mobile ecosystems across genres including FPS, battle royale, fighting games, sports simulation, strategy, and racing.
The announcement follows S8UL’s selection as a club partner by the Esports Foundation for the second consecutive year, placing it among an elite cohort of 40 leading esports organisations worldwide.
The EWC 2026 will be held in Riyadh from July 6 to August 23, featuring a record prize pool of $75m (approximately Rs 700 crore). More than 2,000 players and 200 clubs from over 100 countries will compete across 24 titles. At the heart of the competition is the Club Championship, which carries a $30m (approximately Rs 280 crore) prize pool, rewarding consistent performance across multiple games.
Animesh Agarwal, co-founder and chief executive of S8UL, said the scale of this year’s campaign was the product of hard lessons learned. “Our experience in Riyadh last year gave us a clear understanding of what it takes to compete consistently at the global level. Since then, we have been deliberate in refining our approach, strengthening our foundation, investing in the right talent, and expanding into titles with long-term potential. The focus now is on execution: delivering consistent performances and establishing S8UL as a credible contender across every title we enter.”
At EWC 2025, S8UL competed across nine titles, reaching the Grand Finals in Apex Legends and securing top-eight finishes in Chess and EA Sports FC. This year’s campaign adds five new titles: Fortnite, Honor of Kings, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Street Fighter 6, and Trackmania.
The organisation has arrived at EWC 2026 in sharp form. Its BGMI roster won the BGMI India Series 2026, India’s premier mobile esports tournament. Its MOBA Legends 5v5 team claimed the Rai Star x Gyan Gaming Cup. Grandmaster Nihal Sarin won the Menorca Open. The VALORANT roster took the VCSA Split 1. The Honor of Kings team won the Kings Arise India City Tour in Mumbai. And on the global stage, the Apex Legends roster delivered a historic top-five finish at the ALGS 2026 Championship, the best-ever result by an Indian organisation in that title.
For Indian esports, the direction of travel is unmistakable. S8UL is no longer just showing up at the world’s biggest gaming tournament. It is arriving with intent.
