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3DMAX crowned champions of the $300,000 Skyesports Championship 2024 in Mumbai
Mumbai: Skyesports, a premier global IP and community builder for gaming and esports, has wrapped up the Skyesports Championship 2024, a $300,000 international Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament featuring 11 teams from around the world, held at the Taj Lands End, Mumbai from July 23 to 28. After an intense group stage and the playoffs, in a true underdog fashion, 3DMAX triumphed over The Mongolz 2-0 in a surprisingly one-sided final to become the champions.
Commenting on the victory, Bryan “Maka” Canda, 3DMAX’s star player, said, “I would like to thank every fan from France firstly who has been watching us at any time. I would also like to thank all the people who cheered for us. It was quite a tough LAN with some tough moments – we fell sick and stuff – but we made it through and we’re so happy.”
3DMAX didn’t have an easy journey to the trophy. Placed in Group B, their first match of the tournament against the Russian squad of Amkal Esports went into overtime but the French boys were ultimately able to triumph with a 16-14 scoreline. They were able to win their other matches, but faced a defeat against Eternal Fire, another overtime match, to finish second in their group.
Throughout the Quarterfinals, they were the underdogs. Still, they pushed through the Playoffs bracket by convincing victories against ENCE, Aurora Esports, and ultimately The Mongolz to win the tournament and the lion’s share of the $300,000 prize pool.
Commenting on the tournament, Skyesports founder and CEO, Shiva Nandy said, “The engagement to the Skyesports Championship 2024, with more than 5 million views and a peak concurrent viewership of more than 47,600 across Hindi, English, Mongolia, French, Russian, Turkish, and Polish languages was a testament to our goal of creating globally recognized IPs from India. I would like to congratulate 3DMAX on their victory and extend a token of gratitude to all the teams who came to India to compete in the tournament.”
The complete rankings from the Skyesports Championship 2024 are as follows:
. First place: 3DMAX ($100,000)
. Second place: The MongolZ ($70,000)
. Third and fourth place: Aurora Gaming and Eternal Fire ($35,000 each)
. Fifth and sixth place: ENCE and Amkal Esports ($15,000 each)
. 7th and eighth place: Bleed Esports and DMS
. 9th and 10th place: Parivision and Revenant Esports
. 11th place: True Rippers Esports
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.
