eSports
IESF President Expects Inclusion of Esports in Olympics in Future
The International Esports Federation (IESF) is looking to have esports included in the Olympic programme in future, president Vlad Marinescu said at its World Championship Finals in Eilat, Israel on Friday.
Esports is set to be an official medal event at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, four years after it was held as a demonstration event at the Asiad in Jakarta.
The esports industry has grown in recent years and is expected to surpass $1 billion in revenue this year but has met stiff resistance from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) when being considered as a sport for the Summer Games.
“Regarding Olympic inclusion, esports as a medal event… this is a trend that I see continuing through the continental unions, collaboration with the different continental Olympic committees,” Marinescu told reporters.
“In the IESF we have continental bodies that are members… except for Oceania. These organisations will push forward to include esports in their various continental games.
“I can tell you that the IESF application fulfils all the statutory requirements and criteria. We have applied and we’re looking forward to understanding what the next step is.”
IOC president Thomas Bach had said in the past that some esports games were too violent and not in line with Olympic values to be included in the Games.
“We were faced with this question at this World Championship regarding the game title CS:GO,” Marinescu added, referring to ‘Counter Strike: Global Offensive’, a multi-player first person shooter game.
“We have the ability to select, for the World Championship, the titles that the national federations want to play,” adding that CS:GO was included by popular demand from the gaming community.
“When we speak about inclusion into the Olympic Games… or in any other event that is not under our umbrella but in cooperation with an organisation, we have to follow those standards and select the game that fits that criteria.”
With mobile gaming now a booming industry, especially for those without the resources or means to play on gaming consoles, IESF’s General Secretary Boban Totovski said the next World Championships would have one or two mobile titles.
Bali, Indonesia was confirmed as hosts of next year’s World Championship, followed by Iasi, Romania in 2023.
“The minimum is one mobile title, but we’re in negotiations with publishers. The host city also has the right to nominate titles, we’re starting negotiations in December,” Totovski said.
Vasista Esports rolled to a spectacular finish after a nail-biting grand finals of the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 – BGMI. The team secured the title by taking down India’s top 16 teams in the Sky Surge and Grand Finals, which took place from May 15 to 18. The Skyesports Championship is India’s longest-running homegrown esports IP, and the 2025 BGMI edition saw hundreds of teams participate in the open qualifiers for a shot at the title and a share of the INR 17.5 lakhs prize pool.
With its exciting format, long legacy, and top teams competing, the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025, powered by AMD with associate partners WD_BLACK and GIGABYTE accumulated 30 million views from broadcast and 40 million through VOD views for a total 70 million viewership.
Vasista Esports have been in red-hot form throughout the tournament. After emerging on top in the Upper Bracket, the team entered the Grand Finals as one of the favorites – and they didn’t disappoint. With a dominant performance, they accumulated 169 points, 32 ahead of second-placed Autobotz Esports.
The iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 featured a unique format in the Grand Finals with the introduction of the Sky Champ format—a first in the history of BGMI esports.
As part of this, May 15 featured the Sky Surge, based on which teams received bonus points for the 3-day Grand Finals from May 16 to 18. Vasista placed 14th in the Sky Surge, earning no bonus points and needing to climb the rankings from scratch.
In the Grand Finals, teams needed to reach 125 points to become Sky Champ point eligible. Once eligible, a team had to secure a WWCD (Winner Winner Chicken Dinner) to be crowned champions. This format ensured every match remained crucial, even as Vasista built a strong lead in the points table.
Ultimately, no team was able to secure a WWCD after becoming Sky Champ point eligible. As a result, Vasista Esports were crowned champions after 18 matches, based on their overall points as they remained consistent and aggressive.
A visibly emotional Sohail “Hector” Shaikh from Vasista Esports, who is also credited with building the winning lineup, said in a post-tournament interview, “A lot of people doubted me. A lot has happened in my life over the past 10 months, but I finally got the opportunity to prove myself. I’m grateful to my team. Our next target: winning the official BMPS 2025.”
The iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 recorded over 100,000 peak concurrent viewers and more than 30 million total livestream views—highlighting the excitement around India’s premier homegrown esports IP.
Commenting on the tournament, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said, “First of all – congratulations to Hector and Vasista Esports for their dominant performance, not just in the Grand Finals, but throughout the tournament. Their resilience and high-tier performance kept us on the edge of our seats. With more than 30 million livestream views so far, it showcases the growth and attention of our premium esports property. Lastly, thanks to our partners in iQOO, AMD, Western Digital, GIGABYTE, and Red Bull for making this tournament possible.”
With its thrilling format, record-breaking numbers, and fresh champions, the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 has once again cemented itself as a landmark event in Indian esports.
The overall standings is as follows:
1. Vasista Esports – 169 points
2. Autobotz Esports – 137 points
3. Learn From Past – 135 points
4. Wyld Fangs – 125 points
5. Team iQOOSoul – 114 points
6. Blitz Esports – 112 points
7. RivalryxRNRi – 110 points
8. Team iQOO 8Bit – 97 points
9. 4Merical Esports – 97 points
10. Money Makerz – 96 points
11. True Rippers – 95 points
12. Team Versatile – 92 points
13. OnePlus Cincinnati Kids – 91 points
14. Rising Inferno Esports – 77 points
15. OnePlus Gods Reign – 62 points
16. Alibaba Raiders – 57 points
The post Vasista Esports Crowned Champions of the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 – BGMI appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Yurikov is a Peruvian-American competitor with over a decade of experience in the global fighting game circuit. Competing professionally since 2012, he first rose to prominence in titles like The King of Fighters and Guilty Gear Strive, and has since made a successful transition into Fatal Fury, carrying with him a legacy of consistency, adaptability, and competitive drive.
He has played over 400 matches and his tournament victories span multiple fighting games, including Summer Jam 2023, South Louisiana Major 2023, and Heat Wave 2022 – Northeast Championship 22. Now under the S8UL banner, Yurikov will represent India’s top esports organisation at the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh, as well as other international fighting game tournaments throughout the year.
“From solo queues to the big leagues. Joining S8UL is a whole new chapter. I’ve always moved with purpose- now it’s time to do it with a team that shares the vision. Let’s make history,” stated Marcoantonio “Yurikov” Malpica.
S8UL’s move into Fatal Fury follows a series of high-impact signings across multiple titles including Apex Legends, Call of Duty (COD) Warzone, Chess, EAFC25, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), Starcraft II and Tekken 8. While S8UL is already known for dominating the mobile esports and content space, this entry into Fatal Fury represents yet another step in its ambition to build a truly global, multi-genre esports legacy.
“Esports is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead means not just following trends, but setting them. At S8UL, we’ve always believed in backing talent that can lead across eras, not just tournaments.” said Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL. “Been watching Yurikov cook for a while — always knew he was built different. Welcome to the family, hermano.”
EWC 2025 will witness 16 of the world’s best Fatal Fury players battle it out for a share of the massive $1 million (approx. INR 8.5 crore) prize pool from July 10 to 12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With this announcement, S8UL has now unveiled rosters across all eight titles that they will be competing in at EWC 2025. The lineups are as follows:
Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy)
Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda)
Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
Fatal Fury: Marcoantonio Malpica (Yurikov)
Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1)
Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho)
Tekken 8: Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino)
The post S8UL steps into the Fatal Fury arena with the signing of fighting games veteran Yurikov appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Aquisitions/Mergers
S8UL acquires North America’s leading Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster ahead of Esports World Cup 2025
S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, has officially acquired the renowned North American Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team formerly known as BloodThirstyKings (BTK). With this move, S8UL makes a historic entry into the MLBB competitive circuit, becoming the first Indian organisation to sign a top-tier international MLBB roster ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 and other major tournaments.
The roster joining S8UL comprises:
– Michael “MobaZane” Cosgun
– Ian “FwydChickn” Hohl
– Jang “Hoon” Seong-hun
– Ziameth-Jei “ZIA” Caluya
– Vo “Shark” Trung
– Carlos “Bestplayer1” Ortega Vega
Founded in 2020, BTK rose to international prominence after their third-place finish at the MLBB M3 World Championship, where they notably defeated the Filipino powerhouse Blacklist International, taking home $80,000 (INR 68.4 lakh). Since then, the team has been a consistent force in North America’s MLBB ecosystem, with multiple regional championship wins and strong global performances to their name.
The roster officially qualified for the MLBB Mid Season Cup (MSC) at the upcoming EWC 2025 following a dominant run in the recently concluded North America Challenger Tournament (NACT) Spring Season, where they defeated Area 77 in the Grand Finals with a 4-2 scoreline.
With players who have competed across multiple MLBB world championships, S8UL’s newest roster brings immense experience and proven ability to perform under pressure. This acquisition marks a milestone moment for Indian esports, positioning S8UL at the forefront of global competition in one of the world’s most watched mobile esports titles.
Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL, commented, “We’re committing to MLBB in a big way — becoming a partnered organization and aligning closely with the S8UL vision, with the legendary Michael ‘MobaZane’ Cosgun leading the charge. As a mobile-first org, MLBB holds a special place for us — it’s the only mobile title among the eight games we’re part of. The game’s growth in India is promising, and we’re excited to contribute to its rise by working closely with key Indian stakeholders. This is just the beginning of what we aim to build with MLBB”
The team’s previous accolades include a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Gaimin Gladiators in the NACT Spring Finals and an unforgettable reverse sweep against Cloud9 in the NACT Fall 2024 Grand Finals, turning a 0-3 deficit into a thrilling 4-3 win. That comeback secured their place at the M6 World Championship, where they went on to finish in the top 10. Collectively, the roster has earned close to $150,000 (approx. INR 1.2 crore) in prize winnings, establishing themselves as one of the most accomplished MLBB teams in North America.
“We’ve been on a long journey together, from grassroots tournaments to the world stage, and every chapter has shaped who we are as a team. Joining S8UL feels like the beginning of something bigger than just competition. It’s about aligning with an organisation that understands not just the game, but the grind, the setbacks, and the stories that build champions. We’re not here just to play, we’re here to evolve, to represent, and to create a legacy that goes beyond titles and trophies. With S8UL behind us, we now have the platform to take that next big leap.” said team captain Michael Cosgun aka MobaZane.
According to data from Esports Charts, MLBB is the world’s most popular esports game in 2025, with a peak viewership of 2.7 million. The M6 World Championship held last year recorded an impressive peak viewership of 4.13 million and maintained an average viewership of 709,000 across its 120-hour broadcast, making it one of the largest and most-watched esports tournaments of 2024.
At EWC 2025, 16 of the world’s top MLBB teams will compete in double elimination group stages and best-of-5 knockout rounds which will culminate in a best-of-7 grand final. With a $3,000,000 (approx. INR 25.6 crore) prize pool on the line, this year’s MSC is set to be one of the biggest mobile esports events in history.
S8UL’s MLBB roster brings a balanced mix of experience and synergy across all roles. MobaZane leads as the Jungler, with FwydChickn in the EXP Lane and Hoon anchoring the Mid Lane. ZIA handles the Gold Lane, while Shark plays Roamer, driving team engagements. Bestplayer1 adds depth as a second Jungler, offering strategic flexibility for different matchups.
With this announcement, S8UL has now unveiled rosters across seven different titles for EWC 2025. The lineups are as follows:
Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy)
Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda)
Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
EAFC25: Jonas Wirth (Jonny) and Aaron Rivera (Happy)
Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1)
Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho)
Tekken 8: Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino)
The post S8UL acquires North America’s leading Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster ahead of Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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