Sports
ESS re-launches ‘Super Selector’
MUMBAI: ESPN Star Sports (ESS) will re-launch its online game Super Selector on 22 September to coincide with the ICC Champions Trophy and Airtel Champions League T20. In the latest version of Super Selector, there are two leagues – ‘Apna League‘ for fans and the ‘Special Media League‘ for the media fraternity. The broadcaster had first launched the game in 2001. The Super Selector Game is based on the International Cricket Council (ICC) cricket season. It will also consist of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Champions Twenty20 League tournament and a couple of other non-ICC tournaments. The game is split into multiple stages and there are three Game Weeks within each stage. Prizes will be awarded to the highest point scoring managers of Game Days and Stages. The game will offer Wap availability, SMS alert, desktop widgets, integration with Facebook, Friendster and Orkut, Forums and expert Blogs. The winner of the Special Media League will get a cricket bat signed by the broadcaster‘s commentary team. There will be prizes for the top three finishers in the media section. There will also be consolation prizes for the top 10.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
