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
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
