Gaming
Skyesports-The Pokemon Co flag off Pokémon Unite winter esports tournament
MUMBAI: Remember the global frenzy when Niantic’s John Hanke unleashed Pokémon GO, sparking a worldwide revolution and rekindling childhood nostalgia?
That unexpected masterpiece didn’t just exceed expectations—it redefined mobile gaming, amassing nearly eight billion in lifetime revenue across the App Store and Google Play. With its best financial year in 2020, raking in $908.94 million, and a still-impressive $655.24 million in 2022, Pokémon GO became a cultural phenomenon, turning sidewalks into battlefields and parks into Pokémon havens.
For many of us, it wasn’t just a game—it was a time machine. It whisked us back to those cherished afternoons of munching on lunch while glued to the TV, cheering as Ash and Pikachu braved another adventure. Now, as the Pokémon legacy continues to thrive, a new chapter is here to reignite the excitement.
In a move to keep the spirit alive and burning, The Pokémon Company, in collaboration with Skyesports, has announced the Pokémon Unite Winter Tournament India 2025. This grassroots esports extravaganza promises not only glory but also a chance for Indian players to compete for national pride on the international stage. Get ready, trainers—the journey isn’t over yet!
The tournament features a prize pool of $10,000, with the ultimate victor earning a coveted spot in the Pokémon Unite Asia Champions League 2025 finals. Scheduled to take place in Shinjuku, Japan, on 29-30 March, the finals will host elite teams from across Asia.
Registrations for the tournament are now live on the official website and will close on 29 January 2025. The event begins with a qualifier stage, followed by group stages, and culminates in the playoffs. The top eight teams will battle through a double-elimination bracket, aiming for the prestigious international slot.
Tournament schedule:
1 Qualifier Stage: Single-elimination bracket (1-2 February)
2 Group Stage: Four groups in a single round-robin format (8 February)
3 Playoffs: Top two teams from each group compete in double elimination (9 February)
The tournament complements the ongoing Pokémon Unite ACL India League, which engages top-tier organisations such as S8UL, GodLike, Revenant XSpark, and Global Esports. While the ACL India League focuses on professional teams, the winter tournament serves as a platform for aspiring talent.
An executive from the Pokémon company highlighted the initiative’s dual approach: “While the ACL India League supports the top-tier organisations of the country, the Winter Tournament highlights our commitment to grassroots development. By supporting players at every level—from grassroots to the pro scene—we aim to ensure the sustainable growth of Pokémon Unite esports in India.”
Skyesports, CEO & founder, Shiva Nandy added, “We are thrilled to introduce the open-for-all Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament. This competition gives every aspiring pro player a chance to shine and represent the country in Japan. The tournament underscores Skyesports’ vision of giving Indian players and teams a chance to compete on the global stage. Best of luck to all participants.”
Pokémon Unite’s dynamic 10-minute matches have fuelled its rapid rise in India, cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of players and fans. This winter tournament aims to nurture this growth further, ensuring continued momentum for Pokémon Unite esports in the country.
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.
