Gaming
Riot Games’ ‘Convergence’: Trailblazing teams in India’s first VALORANT International e-sports tournament
Mumbai: Riot Games’ Convergence, its first ever international VALORANT esports tournament in India in partnership with The Esports Club, and Lenovo as the title sponsor, is all set to kick off, with the top VALORANT teams from across multiple regions taking the field to compete for the prestigious title. Held from 14 to 17 December 2023 at the Manpho Convention Center in Bangalore, Convergence will be Riot’s first international VALORANT e-sports event on the Indian circuit, showcasing its commitment to the growing gaming culture in the country.
For Indian gamers, the tournament marks an exciting opportunity to see some of the top VALORANT teams from around the world play each other live – including two Indian contenders, Global Esports and True Rippers Esports to cheer for. With the other contenders representing Asia, Europe, and the Americas from Riot’s VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), the event is sure to be the pinnacle of professional VALORANT esports and boost the Indian VALORANT circuit. Here is a quick look at the teams competing later this month:
Global Esports
Mumbai headquartered Global Esports are one of the teams to watch this tournament. Known for their strategic site executions, the team will have plenty of fans to cheer for them in Bangalore, particularly for local boy Abhirup Paul ‘Lightningfast’ Choudhury. Together, they will be looking to convert their homeground advantage into a strong performance at Convergence.
FUT Esports
Representing Turkey, FUT brings a unique flair to the competition with their unpredictable playstyle and knack for surprise tactics. With the potential to take games off any team, they will be strong title contenders and a dark horse coming to challenge the established order.
Furia
Representing Brazil, one of the most competitive FPS gaming regions in the world, Furia’s precise and aggressive gameplay has been forged in the fires of the competitive South American region, and has made them a force to be reckoned with. They will be looking to bring their A-game to the Convergence battleground as they go toe to toe with the best in the world.
Team Vitality
Hailing from Europe, Vitality’s strategic plays have been their standout feature and carried them to 5-6th Place at the EMEA League of the 2023 Valorant Champions Tour. Convergence will be a new proving ground for the squad, who will be looking forward to clinching the title at the tournament.
Gen.G Esports
Gen.G is a powerhouse North American / Korean organization, this year fielding a talented all-Korean squad with a reputation for explosive plays and clutch moments. With a roster stacked with top-tier talent, they are determined to establish themselves as the dominant force in the global VALORANT scene.
True Rippers Esports
Fighting their way up to the tournament from the Indian qualifiers, Bangalore based True Rippers Esports have already begun their journey in the tournament with a bang, and will look to continue their winning ways by taking games off the established top teams at the event. Performing in front of a home crowd, the underdogs may be new to the scene but definitely not ones to be counted out.
As the tournament kicks off, Indian fans can look forward to seeing a stellar showcase of VALORANT performances and global talent going up against Indian esports athletes. Convergence is set to be India’s biggest VALORANT event, and a delight for fans both in India and around the world.
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.
