Gaming
Chiliz aims US, European sports markets through strategic partnership with Lagardère Sports
MUMBAI: Chiliz, the blockchain fintech provider for sports and entertainment, has partnered with Lagardère Sports, a sports and entertainment marketing agency, to further propel cryptocurrency into mainstream sport. The partnership will see Lagardère Sports working hand-in-hand with the Chiliz team to develop new partnerships for Socios.com, from their worldwide network of leading athletes, clubs, federations and sports leagues.
Lagardère’s network includes six French soccer clubs and 16 German soccer teams, including exclusive agreements with Borussia Dortmund, Hamburger SV, Olympique Lyonnais, AS Saint Etienne and OGC Nice. They also represent a roster of MLB & NFL players such as Eric Fisher, Terrell Suggs & Kendall Fuller from Superbowl Champions the Kansas City Chiefs.
The agreement allows Lagardère Sports to offer sports rights holders across the world the opportunity to secure additional revenue streams and deepen fan engagement using innovative blockchain technology.
Lagardère Sports’ wants to become the leading agency on blockchain, and through this partnership, is the first sports marketing agency to position itself at the forefront of technological innovations and its desire to change the sports industry.
Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Chiliz & Socios.com, said: “We have been very clear in communicating our goal to onboard 50 IPs to the Socios.com app in 2020 and I look forward to working hand-in-hand with Lagardère Sports to help us achieve that target, targeting Lagardère’s extensive network of athletes, clubs, federations and sports leagues to build the future of fan engagement for rights holders across Europe and the US.”
Laurent Moretti, Lagardère Sports Chief Executive France, said: “We are proud to announce this strategic partnership with Socios.com. This agreement rewards our ability to project ourselves into the future and believe in the development of new technologies such as blockchain and crypto-currency. As a leading sports marketing agency, it is our duty to offer the best solutions to our clients and partners, and this partnership will contribute significantly to our vision.”
Gaming
S8ul wins India qualifier for Pokémon Unite Worlds 2026
Fourth qualification; to compete for $500,000 in San Francisco 28–30 Aug.
MUMBAI: If consistency were a power-up, S8ul would be permanently maxed out. S8ul has once again stamped its authority on India’s Pokémon Unite scene, clinching the India Qualifier for the World Championship Series 2026 and booking a spot at the global finals in San Francisco. The win marks a record fourth appearance for S8ul at the world championship, more than any other Indian team. Even more telling: across five Indian qualifiers held so far, the team has now won four, underlining a grip on the title that looks less like dominance and more like routine.
The road to qualification was clinical. Playing a double-elimination format, S8ul swept past Anti Secure, GodLike and Team QML with identical 2-0 victories in the upper bracket. The final hurdle, however, demanded nerve. In a best-of-five grand final, they edged out Revenant XSpark 3-2 in a tightly fought series.
Led by captain Manmohan Singh (All Might), alongside Anklesh Satelkar (Novaa), Darshan Nate (Kai), Naitik Jain (Wolf) and Md Sarim Hasan (Qing), the team combined composure with adaptability two traits that have become their trademark in high-pressure matches.
For their victory, S8ul secured $15,000 (approximately Rs 14.1 lakh) from the qualifier’s $25,000 prize pool (around Rs 23.5 lakh). The bigger prize, however, awaits, a shot at the $500,000 (roughly Rs 4.7 crore) global pool at the World Championships, scheduled from August 28 to 30.
The result adds to what has already been a packed trophy cabinet in 2026. S8ul’s BGMI roster lifted the BGIS 2026 title, its Valorant squad won VCSA Split 1, and its Apex Legends team delivered a top-five finish at the ALGS 2026 Championship, the best-ever by an Indian organisation. Even beyond esports, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin’s Menorca Open win adds to the collective momentum.
With selection as one of 40 global Club Partners by the Esports Foundation for the Esports World Cup 2026, S8ul is now eyeing qualification across 13 titles, ranging from Apex Legends and BGMI to Street Fighter 6 and Trackmania.
For now, though, all roads lead to San Francisco. And if past form is any indicator, S8UL won’t just be showing up, they’ll be showing up to win.
