S8UL earns three Esports Awards 2026 nominations, led by Animesh Agarwal

MUMBAI: The Indian esports scene is taking another swing at global glory, with S8UL securing three nominations at the Esports Awards 2026.

S8UL has been shortlisted for Esports Content Group of the Year for a fifth consecutive year, while co-founder and CEO Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal has been nominated for Esports Personality of the Year. S8UL creator Raj Varma, better known as Snax Gaming, is also in the running for Streamer of the Year.

The nominations add another chapter to S8UL’s strong run at the awards. The organisation has won the Esports Content Group of the Year category four consecutive times, making it one of the most consistently recognised esports content groups globally.

Agarwal is also returning to the Personality of the Year category after making history last year as the first Indian to win the award.

This year’s Content Group shortlist puts S8UL alongside global esports organisations including T1, Team Vitality, G2 Esports, OpTic Gaming, NRG and 100 Thieves.

Agarwal, meanwhile, faces a star-studded field featuring esports and streaming names such as Faker, Ibai Llanos, Caedrel, Jynxzi, Kameto, Magnus Carlsen and Boaster.

“Being recognised by the Esports Awards year after year is incredibly special because it reflects consistency at the highest level,” said S8UL co-founder and CEO Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal.

He said last year’s win remained a landmark moment, while the latest nominations were a recognition of the creators, players and fans who have helped build S8UL over the years.

“Indian gaming is no longer an emerging story, we’re now part of the global conversation,” Agarwal added.

For Snax Gaming, the nomination marks another step up. The creator is receiving his second consecutive Esports Awards nomination, having been shortlisted for Esports Content Creator of the Year in 2025. This time, he has moved into the Streamer of the Year category.

Snax Gaming said the latest recognition reflected his growth over the past few years and would motivate him to raise the bar further.

“It’s incredible to see Indian creators being recognised alongside some of the biggest names in global streaming,” said Snax Gaming, adding that he hoped the nomination would be the start of more milestones for the community.

The nominations come as S8UL continues to expand its presence beyond India. The organisation was selected for the Esports World Cup Foundation’s Club Partner Program for a second consecutive year and represented India across multiple titles at the ongoing Esports World Cup 2026.

S8UL has also been expanding its international roster, building partnerships with global brands and growing its creator-led gaming ecosystem.

The organisation operates from S8UL Gaming House 2.0, which houses more than 25 gaming creators. It has worked with over 250 global and regional brands, including iQOO, Monster Energy, Lenovo, Netflix, Krafton, Red Bull, Gillette, Campa Energy and AMD.

With voting now open for the Esports Awards 2026, S8UL’s three nominations underline a broader shift in the global gaming landscape. Indian esports organisations and creators are no longer simply making up the numbers on the world stage. They are increasingly competing for the top spot.