Gaming
Zupee Partners with KBC for ghar baithe jeeto jackpot contest
MUMBAI: Marketers could learn from this collab between Sony and skill-based gaming platform Zupee on how to acquire customers and retain them. The two have partnered to increase stickiness for the Amitabh Bachchan-hosted millionaire (in India it is the crorepati ) show, Kaun Banega Crorepati.
Titled, ‘ghar baithe jeeto jackpot’ contest, offering viewers a chance to win cash prizes by showcasing their knowledge and skills.
The contest, which began on 24 January 2025, awards Rs 1 lakh each to five winners every week. Participants can join from the comfort of their homes by answering questions aired “during” KBC episodes. (So obviously those eager to pocket the Rs 1 lakh will do more than watch, they probably will watch the episodes with a magnifying glass and volume on full.)
Zupee COO Akanksha Dhamija, said: “Our aim is to make skill-based games accessible to everyone. The ‘ghar baithe jeeto jackpot‘ contest offers millions the chance to win big by leveraging their knowledge and skills.”
Sony Pictures Network India head of sales for network channels Sandeep Mehrotra added: “KBC has always celebrated knowledge and aspiration. This collaboration with Zupee enhances viewer engagement, making the dream of winning big more accessible.”
To participate, viewers must download the Zupee app, tune in to KBC on Sony Entertainment Television every Friday at 9 pm, and submit answers via the app by Monday midnight. Winners are announced during the following Friday’s episode, with a new question aired weekly.
Zupee, founded in 2018 by IIT Kanpur alumni Dilsher Singh Malhi and Siddhant Saurabh, is India’s largest skill-based ludo platform. The company is backed by investors such as WestCap Group, Matrix Partners India, and Orios Venture Partners.
This collaboration marks a new chapter in interactive entertainment, bringing together Zupee’s expertise in skill-based gaming and KBC’s knowledge-driven format to reward Indian viewers
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.
