Gaming
Gotta snatch ’em all S8ul books third trip to Pokémon Worlds
MUMBAI: When the going got tough, S8ul got going and how! In a run that could rival any anime redemption arc, the Indian esports juggernaut clawed its way back from early defeat to punch its ticket to the Pokémon World Championship 2025 in Anaheim, USA. This marks a hat-trick of national triumphs for S8ul, reinforcing their stranglehold on the Indian Pokémon Unite scene.
After a bumpy start in the India qualifiers a 0-2 stumble to True Rippers in the Upper Bracket S8ul fell into the dreaded Lower Bracket. But instead of crumbling, the squad dug deep, unleashing a four-match knockout blitz. They swept past Team Dynamis, crushed Autobotz, and settled scores with True Rippers in an emotionally charged rematch before toppling QML to make the Grand Finals.
With the momentum firmly in their Pokéballs, they faced off against Revenant Xspark in the finals, clinching the crown with a 2-0, 2-1 victory combo. The win not only earned them a cool Rs 12.85 lakh in prize money but, more importantly, secured their slot among the top 32 teams heading to Worlds.
The S8ul roster is stacked with talent: Manmohan ‘AllMight’ Singh (captain), Rahul “Kyurem” Lavhate, Deep “Snowyy” Patel, Adnan “Badshahh” Badshah, Rudra “ReX” Nayak, and Aditya “Reapy” Bhujbal, a squad known for sharp strats, ice-cold nerves, and synergy that rivals any evolution chain.
Speaking on the achievement, team captain Manmohan ‘AllMight’ Singh said, “Representing India at the World Championship is a fantastic feeling. We knew we had the potential, it was about staying composed and focused after the initial round loss. This victory is a testament to our hard work, dedication, team strategy and communication. We’re honored to represent the nation and will give it everything we’ve got in Anaheim.”
S8ul, founder & CEO Animesh Agarwal added, “Winning the Indian qualifiers for the third time in a row is a proud moment for all of us at S8ul. This team has consistently raised the bar for Indian esports and their resilience in this campaign was nothing short of inspiring. Representing India on a global stage again is not just an achievement, it’s a responsibility and we’re ready to make the country proud.”
The Pokémon World Championship 2025 will unfold from 15–17 August in Anaheim, featuring top global squads fighting for a slice of the Rs 4.28 crore prize pool. As an official club partner at the Esports World Cup (EWC), S8ul is already a flagbearer for Indian gaming on the world stage and with their Anaheim adventure looming, they’re ready to evolve once again.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
