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Tag: Naman Mathur

  • S8ul adds global stars to CODM roster ahead of Esports World Cup 2025

    S8ul adds global stars to CODM roster ahead of Esports World Cup 2025

    MUMBAI: If Call of Duty had a multiverse, S8ul Esports just assembled the Avengers version of a roster. S8ul Esports is locked, loaded, and gunning for global glory as it unveils a turbocharged Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) lineup featuring some of the most decorated names in the game. The Indian esports juggernaut has added Jezz (USA), Frann (Indonesia) and Marvel (France) to its already promising CODM squad, ahead of its international campaign at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.

    Joining the elite trio are coach ZIM winner of the 2020 Best CODM Coach Award and strategic analyst Cali Gaming, who’ll be decoding gameplay and fine-tuning tactics from the sidelines. The revamped roster now includes six players from across the globe, including Indian players Samruddha (SAMs), Samartha (JOKOs) and Rishi Dubey (Trunks).

    And these aren’t just flashy imports. Jezz, aged 21, was part of the squad that clinched the 2022 CODM World Championship, netting a cool 700,000 dollars (approx. Rs 6 crore) in prize money. He’s consistently placed in the Top 8 globally and recently triumphed at the Snapdragon Pro Series Season 5 – North America.

    Frann brings serious heat from Southeast Asia, having won every Major Series title from Season 7 to 12 and finishing Top 8 at the 2023 World Championship. Marvel, the French phenom, adds Euro-style precision with wins at SPS Season 5 (India) and Season 6 (Europe), and a Top 5 finish at the 2021 West Finals.

    With this blend of global talent and homegrown stars, S8ul becomes the only Indian organisation competing across 12 esports titles, reinforcing its ambition to be more than just dominant, it wants to be definitive.

    S8ul co-founder Naman Mathur aka Mortal called the signings “a big moment for us not just as a team, but as a community.” He added that the new roster reflects S8ul’s broader vision: “To build strong, competitive teams while staying true to who we are.”

    With its foot firmly on the gas and crosshairs locked on Riyadh, S8ul isn’t just playing to compete, it’s playing to rewrite the rulebook for Indian esports.

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  • S8UL Esports wins ‘Content Group of the Year’ at Esports Awards 2024

    S8UL Esports wins ‘Content Group of the Year’ at Esports Awards 2024

    Mumbai: S8UL Esports, an esports and gaming content organization, further solidified its position as a global leader in gaming content creation by winning the ‘Content Group of the Year’ award for the third consecutive year at the Esports Awards 2024 on Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

    This unprecedented achievement, which makes S8UL the first-ever esports organization to win this award three times in a row, stands as a testament to S8UL’s commitment to excellence in content creation in the global gaming and esports landscape.

    Founded by industry veterans Naman Mathur, popularly known as ‘Mortal’, Animesh Agarwal, aka ‘8Bit Thug’, and Lokesh “Goldy” Jain, S8UL Esports has made history by winning in this award for the third consecutive time. This year, they were competing in this category against global gaming content powerhouses like OfflineTV, G2 Esports, Karmine Corp, Sentinels, Fnatic and T1 Esports.

    In his award acceptance speech, S8UL and 8Bit Creatives co-founder Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug encapsulated the significance of this win by saying, “The first time could have been lucky, the second time was a charm, and the third time firmly means that the best content group of India is the best in the world. This award belongs to our entire team of S8UL whose belief in our vision and relentless contributions have made this achievement possible.”

    Adding to their accolades, S8UL Esports also received the ‘Fan Engagement’ badge in the ‘Ones to Watch Class of 2024’ category, further cementing its reputation among one of the most popular content organisations in the world. This badge recognizes S8UL’s outstanding efforts in building a strong, loyal and interactive community.

    Since its inception, S8UL has been a trailblazer in the Indian gaming landscape. By bringing together some of the nation’s most talented content creators under one banner, S8UL has consistently delivered top-notch content and provided a plethora of brands a medium to connect to the youth audience.

    Speaking on the momentous occasion, S8UL and 8Bit Creatives co-founder Lokesh Jain aka Goldy said, “We are beyond thrilled to receive this award for the third time. It is a testament to our entire team’s hard work, dedication and passion. Over the past four years, we have collaborated with around 560 brands and this financial year alone, we are close to closing deals with over 120 brands, both endemic and non-endemic. We are continuously working towards shaping the future of Indian esports and gaming creators’ economies on a global scale.”

    Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur, co-founder of S8UL and widely regarded as the ‘Face of Indian Gaming and Esports,’ was also nominated for the ‘Esports Personality of the Year’ category for the third consecutive time. Mortal’s fifth straight nomination at the global Esports Awards highlights his global influence and contribution to the esports community.

    Reflecting on the journey, Mortal said, “Being nominated alongside the world’s top esports personalities is an honour. Our focus at S8UL has always been on pushing the boundaries of what gaming content can be. We strive to deliver messaging that resonates with our audiences and this award is the perfect recognition of that effort.”

    The Esports Awards are a prestigious annual event that celebrates and honours the best of esports all across the world including the players, teams, media, hardware providers, games, events, and personalities. This year’s edition which was streamed live on Twitch, YouTube, and Kick, witnessed a peak viewership of 92.3K, with 8bit Goldy’s live watchalong with S8UL members on his channel drawing the highest individual viewership at 43.2K PV.

    Animesh Agarwal added, “This victory belongs to our fans as much as it does to us. Their unwavering support motivates us to keep raising the bar.”

  • India shines at esports awards, as S8UL bags its third nomination & Mortal bags his fifth

    India shines at esports awards, as S8UL bags its third nomination & Mortal bags his fifth

    Mumbai: S8UL, a leading esports and gaming organization, is once again in the global spotlight after securing the third nomination at the Esports Awards, while co-founder and one of Indian gaming’s most credible names, Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur has been nominated for the fifth consecutive year.

    The award ceremony is set for 24 August in Riyadh, as part of the Esports World Cup. S8UL has received nominations in both the Entertainment and Creative categories for its innovative and game-changing initiatives throughout the year, underscoring the organization’s lasting excellence and influence within the esports and gaming community.

    Brainchild of the country’s esports veterans, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, and Lokesh Jain aka Goldy, S8UL boasts 26 marquee gamers, together revolutionizing Indian Gaming.

    S8UL and another pivotal co-founder Animesh Agarwal known as 8Bit Thug added, “Our repeated recognition at the Esports Awards reaffirms our strategy and our position as leaders within the Indian and global esports arena. We are thrilled to continue setting standards and redefine ourselves for excellence and innovation consistently.”

    S8UL co-founder Lokesh Jain, aka Goldy expressed his pride in the team’s continued global accomplishments, “These nominations are not just recognition of our hard work over the years but also an affirmation for the growing impact that S8UL has etched for itself in the esports world. It’s also a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve in gaming and content creation and the faith and love that fans have shown us.”

    S8UL is an Indian Esports & gaming content organization, and the only Indian organization to win twice at the prestigious Global Esports Awards. They are also the first Esports organization to be awarded with the ‘Global Impact on Mobile Gaming’ award at the international MOBIES Awards.

    Mortal, since his early days, has consistently demonstrated his prowess in the mobile gaming sector. Before his focus shifted predominantly to content creation, Mortal was celebrated as a top competitor in PUBG Mobile, where he clinched top honours including the PUBG Mobile India Series and Club Open Spring Split. Mortal was honoured as the runner-up for Esports Personality of the Year at the Esports Awards 2023, and recently, won the Jod Creators Award at the BGMI Awards 2024, reaffirming his status as the unparalleled magnet for fans across the globe and solidifying his position as one of the most influential figures in the Indian gaming community.

    Co-founder Naman “Mortal” Mathur, who was also the only Indian to be nominated for two categories at the Esports Awards 2020, “It’s truly humbling to be recognized alongside top organizations and talents globally. Each nomination inspires me to innovate and excel, furthering my contribution within the Indian esports and gaming ecosystem but also elevating our presence on the global stage.”

    As S8UL anticipates the upcoming prestigious esports awards ceremony, fans are encouraged to show their support by voting for S8UL in the “Esports Content Group of the Year” category and Mortal for “Esports Personality of the Year” on the official Esports Awards voting page. Additional event details and registration information can be found on the Esports Awards official website.

    S8ul Secures Third Nomination

    2022: Esports Content Group of the Year – Winner
    2023: Esports Content Creator of the Year – Winner
    2024: Nominated for Esports Content Group of the Year

    Naman Earns Fifth Nomination

    2020: Esports Mobile Player of the Year- 3rd; Streamer of the Year- 2nd 
    2021: Streamer of the Year – 2nd
    2022: Esports Personality of the Year – 2nd
    2023: Esports Personality of the Year – 2nd
    2024: Nominated for Esports Personality of the Year

  • Top five highlights you can’t miss at the College Rivals LAN finale

    Top five highlights you can’t miss at the College Rivals LAN finale

    Mumbai: With a stellar lineup boasting prominent esports and music personalities, College Rivals, India’s largest esports talent hunt, will culminate in an electrifying fashion at Nesco, Mumbai on 3 March. For months, the pioneering intellectual property of Ampverse, Asia’s largest ecosystem of gaming communities and IPs, in collaboration with DMI Finance, has offered college students across India the unprecedented opportunity to showcase their esports prowess.

    Now, the grand finale of the event promises a similarly groundbreaking experience for its attendees alongside food and beverages and chill lounges. Whether you are a hardcore gamer, a music enthusiast, or a cosplay aficionado, here are the top five exciting activities in store for everyone at the one-of-a-kind experiential LAN finale:

    Live music performances

    In what will be a first in Indian Esports, the country’s well-renowned music sensations will be performing live at a LAN event finale. Fans will get the unique opportunity to groove to the beats of notable music artists Seedhe Maut, composed of Siddhant Sharma and Abhijay Negi, alongside Gaurav Pal aka Muhfaad, and Garv Taneja aka Char Diwaari. Their live performances will add an extra layer of excitement to the event.

    Meet and greet with e-sports personalities

    Gaming enthusiasts will have an exciting opportunity to rub shoulders with renowned esports personalities such as Naman Mathur (Mortal), Payal Dhare (PayalGaming), Tanmay Singh (ScoutOP), Aniket Sood (Kinganbru), Prishita Nair (MintyGal), Paras Singh (ParasOfficial), Jimesh Parmar (Jimmy Gaming), and Neha Gupta (Naira Gaming). This will be their chance to create unforgettable memories by interacting with some of the biggest names in the Indian gaming community.

    LAN finals

    Hardcore esports fans will be witnessing the ultimate showdown as 28 finalists, selected from a competitive pool of 92,000 participants representing colleges across the country, will battle it out individually across five titles on three different platforms. Whether it is the intense action of BGMI, Road to Valor, Valorant, Tekken 7, or FIFA 23, the attendees can expect nothing short of top-notch gameplay and fierce competition.

    Arcade gaming zones

    Taking a break from the main event, attendees will be able to dive into the world of arcade gaming. From racing simulators to classic arcade games, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. By testing your skills, and challenging your friends, this will serve as the perfect medium to experience the nostalgia of retro gaming.

    Cosplay competition

    Whether you are an experienced cosplayer or making your debut, this will be your chance to shine by embracing your favorite characters and showcasing your creativity. Expect to see a diverse range of costumes inspired by beloved video game characters, anime icons, and pop culture references.

  • India’s prominent gamers and music sensations set to light up College Rivals grand finale

    India’s prominent gamers and music sensations set to light up College Rivals grand finale

    Mumbai: The stage is set for an electrifying blend of Esports, lifestyle, and pop culture, as India’s top gamers prepare to join forces with acclaimed music sensations to headline the grand finale of College Rivals at Nesco, Mumbai on 3 March.

    Renowned esports personalities such as Naman Mathur (Mortal), Payal Dhare (PayalGaming), Tanmay Singh (ScoutOP), Aniket Sood (Kinganbru), Prishita Nair(MintyGal), Paras Singh (ParasOfficial), Jimesh Parmar (Jimmy Gaming) and Neha Gupta (Naira Gaming) will be part of the grand finale of India’s largest Esports talent hunt where they will meet and greet with attendees.

    They will be joined by notable music artists Seedhe Maut composed of Siddhant Sharma and Abhijay Negi, as well as Gaurav Pal aka Muhfaad, and Garv Taneja aka Char Diwari who will raise the roof with their live performances.

    Speaking about the fusion of the LAN Finale with music, Ampverse, India country head Ashwin Haryani stated, “This convergence of India’s leading gamers and music sensations marks a significant stride towards innovation and reflects our commitment to reshaping the Esports landscape in the country. By providing fans with the opportunity to interact with their gaming idols and savor the musical performances of distinguished artists, we aspire to craft an immersive experience that resonates with not only gaming enthusiasts but with everyone attending the event.”

    College Rivals, which is the inaugural intellectual property of Ampverse, Asia’s largest ecosystem of gaming communities and IPs, in collaboration with DMI Finance, is a pioneering initiative that has tapped into the immense talent pool within college campuses across the country.

    The ultimate showdown of College Rivals will feature 28 finalists who have emerged from a competitive pool of 92,000 participants hailing from colleges across the country who will compete individually across six titles on three different platforms including BGMI, Road to Valor, Valorant, Tekken 7, and FIFA 23.

    “I am thrilled to be a part of College Rivals’ grand finale, where the next generation of India’s Esports talent will emerge. This initiative serves as a pivotal stepping stone for aspiring gamers, offering them a comprehensive roadmap for a career in Esports—a path that was not as clearly defined when I began my journey in gaming. Through this platform, I hope to see gamers seize the opportunity and showcase their prowess on the big stage,” said Naman Mathur aka Mortal.

    According to data from Deloitte’s Digital Media Trends Fall Pulse Survey, 42 per cent of GenZ gamers listened to music other than gaming ones while playing, 34 per cent heard music in a game and then looked it up online to stream or buy, 22 per cent of the sample size shared music recommendations while gaming with other online gamers, and 11 per cent had shown the trend of attending live music concerts inside a gaming world venue.

    This deep connection between music and gaming will be brought to life by the one-of-a-kind experiential event which will also include arcade gaming zones, cosplay competition, racing simulators, food and beverage counters, chill lounges, and much more.

    “As artists, we are constantly inspired by creativity and passion, something that exists in plenty within the Esports community. It is an exciting opportunity to perform at this event that is pushing the boundaries by merging the talents of music and gaming together. We eagerly await to witness the exciting gaming action between these aspiring gamers and wish them the best of luck,” commented Gaurav Pal aka Muhfaad.

    This fusion of gaming and music promises an unforgettable experience for attendees, marking a significant moment in Indian Esports entertainment.

    Fans can avail their tickets for the grand finale on BookMyShow.

    For those who are unable to witness the action live, the grand finale will be streamed live on Youtube, Facebook Gaming, Twitch, Kick, Glance, JioGames, JioTV, Loco, and Rooter.