Gaming
S8ul powers up with Team Elite’s Free Fire Max squad as S8ul Elite
MUMBAI: It’s game on and S8ul has just levelled up. The Indian esports powerhouse has announced the acquisition of Team Elite’s Free Fire Max roster, marking the launch of its newest competitive squad, S8ul Elite. The move not only expands S8UL’s footprint across multiple esports titles but also cements its growing dominance in India’s fast-evolving gaming scene.
Led by Lokesh “Pahadi” Karakoti, one of India’s most celebrated Free Fire players with over 1.63 million Youtube subscribers, S8ul Elite features an explosive lineup Jayesh “Mr. Jay” Yadav, Hasan “Hasan” Haider, Adeeb Ansari, and Syed Arman Ali. Each player brings a distinct playstyle, strategic depth, and championship pedigree to the team.
For Pahadi, this move feels like destiny respawning. A key player in Team Elite’s 2021 Free Fire India Championship Fall victory which came with a prize pool of Rs 41.3 lakh, the 22-year-old sniper has been a force to reckon with. He was even crowned best sniper of the year by game publisher Garena earlier this year. His teammate Mr. Jay, known for his lightning-fast entries and tactical aggression, bagged the Rusher of the Year award at the same event. Together, they’re bringing experience, flair, and a championship mindset to S8UL’s roster.
“Joining S8ul is a dream come true,” said Pahadi, the team’s in-game leader. “It’s home to India’s biggest gaming icons and has completely redefined what it means to be a professional gamer in this country. With S8ul’s backing, we’re ready to compete and win at the highest level.”
S8ul Esports co-founder Naman “Mortal” Mathur echoed that excitement: “We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible players into the S8ul family. Each of them brings something special to the table skill, strategy, and the hunger to win. S8ul Elite represents our ongoing commitment to excellence across every game we enter.”
It’s been a milestone year for S8ul Esports, which earlier made headlines by representing India at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, an event boasting a record-breaking Rs 600 crore prize pool. On the content side, the organisation continues to dominate, earning four nominations at the Esports Awards 2025, with recognition for S8ul Esports, co-founder Animesh Agarwal, and creators Payal Dhare and Raj Varma.
With S8UL Elite, the organisation now sets its sights on the Free Fire Max circuit, one of India’s most passionate gaming communities. The team’s formation not only signals S8UL’s ambition to lead across multiple titles but also underscores its larger mission: to empower Indian gamers, elevate esports as a profession, and bring the country’s digital athletes onto the global leaderboard.
From championships to content, S8ul isn’t just playing the game, it’s changing it. And with S8ul Elite entering the arena, the competition just got a whole lot hotter.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
