Leading Indian esports organization S8UL has officially qualified to represent India at the Pokémon World Championship 2025, scheduled to take place from August 15-17 in Anaheim, USA. This marks the third time that S8UL has emerged as the champions of the Indian regional qualifiers for the Pokémon UNITE World Championship — a testament to their dominance and consistency at the national level.

The achievement follows S8UL’s remarkable performance at the India qualifiers, where the team made an impressive comeback to win the championship title

The S8UL Pokémon UNITE roster comprises some of India’s top talent in the title:

• Manmohan ‘AllMight’ Singh (Captain)
• Rahul Sharad “Kyurem” Lavhate
• Deep “Snowyy” Patel
• Adnan “Badshahh” Badshah
• Rudra Narayan “ReX” Nayak
• Aditya “Reapy” Bhujbal

S8UL’s qualification comes on the back of a thrilling campaign in the Indian regional playoffs. The team suffered an early blow in the playoffs, losing their opening Upper Bracket Quarterfinal match 0-2 to True Rippers. Dropping to the Lower Bracket, they began their resurgence by defeating Team Dynamis 2-0, followed by an assertive performance against Autobotz in the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals.

Their comeback arc peaked when they faced True Rippers again in the Lower Bracket Semifinals, this time coming out on top in a hard-fought and emotional victory. The momentum carried forward into a clinical win over QML in the Lower Bracket Finals, marking four consecutive knockout wins to earn their spot in the Grand Finals.

After an early setback in the playoffs, S8UL bounced back with unmatched determination, defeating Revenant Xspark in a well-contested Grand Final with scores of 2-0, 2-1. The victory not only secured S8UL the INR 12.85 lakh first prize but also earned them the prestigious opportunity to compete on the global stage.

Speaking on the achievement, team captain Manmohan ‘AllMight’ Singh said, “Representing India at the World Championship is a fantastic feeling. We knew we had the potential, it was about staying composed and focused after the initial round loss. This victory is a testament to our hard work, dedication, team strategy and communication. We’re honored to represent the nation and will give it everything we’ve got in Anaheim.”

Animesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO of S8UL, added: “Winning the Indian qualifiers for the third time in a row is a proud moment for all of us at S8UL. This team has consistently raised the bar for Indian esports and their resilience in this campaign was nothing short of inspiring. Representing India on a global stage again is not just an achievement, it’s a responsibility — and we’re ready to make the country proud.”

The Pokémon World Championship 2025 will feature 32 of the best teams from across the globe competing for international glory and a share of the INR 4.28 cr prize pool, part of the broader INR 8.56 cr + Pokémon UNITE Championship Series. Now in its fourth year, the championship continues to spotlight the highest level of competitive play in the title.

This victory is yet another milestone in S8UL’s expanding international legacy. As an official Club Partner at the Esports World Cup (EWC), S8UL is at the forefront of India’s presence on the global esports stage. With multiple teams competing across international titles and now securing a slot at the Pokémon World Championship 2025, S8UL continues to elevate Indian esports through high-impact global participation and consistent excellence.

UK sportsbook and casino Midnite were behind a marketing stunt at the Manchester derby at Old Trafford yesterday, handing out special edition scarves to help Manchester United mock neighbours Manchester City.

The scarves were specially designed to highlight every single one of the club’s 115 charges in their soon-to-be-decided court hearing.

City fans face an anxious wait to learn if they have been found guilty for breaking financial rules, and Midnite added fuel to the fire on Sunday.  The giveway is the latest activity from Midnite, which last week was announced as the official betting and casino partner of the World Snooker Championship. Midnite also launched its first TV advertising campaign in March.

The “115” Midnite scarves had United’s famous red colours as the primary colour, with the centre of the scarf featuring a bold yellow “115” representing all of City’s alleged financial charges.

The 500 scarves were taken very quickly by Man United fans, who showed an eagerness to rub the charges in City fans’ faces.

A Midnite spokesperson said: “We caused a stir ahead of the Manchester derby by handing out special edition scarves that reminded City about their 115 charges. 

“We wanted to create a keepsake for fans in attendance as City fans face an anxious wait over their alleged breaking of financial rules.”

Today, British professional Fortnite player Kyle ‘Mongraal’ Jackson has been announced as the newest Red Bull Player.

As a Red Bull Player, Mongraal will be competing at Fortnite tournaments throughout the year and representing the brand across Fortnite Championships. Aged just 13, Mongraal was initially signed by international esports organisation Team Secret, becoming one of the youngest esports players ever.

Details on Mongraal’s background and his addition to the Red Bull Player roster:

• Kyle ‘Mongraal’ Jackson has been signed as the UK’s most recent Fortnite Red Bull Player.
• Mongraal joining the likes of renowned streamers AngryGinge, Ludwig and Tarik, and alongside traditional athletes like F1 World Champion Max Verstappen and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai.
• As a Red Bull Player, Mongraal will be competing as a Red Bull Player at Fortnite tournaments throughout the year, representing the brand across Fortnite Championships and supporting major Red Bull UK gaming projects throughout the year.
• Starting his professional Fortnite Career in 2018 aged just 13, Mongraal has already notched up an impressive history of results, securing himself as one of the top pro Fortnite players in the world
• The London native has numerous seasonal Fortnite Championship Series (FNCS) titles under his belt, as well as high placements at the 2019 Fortnite World Cup making him a key player in any duo or trio, and a dangerous opponent
• Red Bull Player Kyle ‘Mongraal’ Jackson commented: “Joining Red Bull is a dream come true. Red Bull has always been about pushing limits, and that’s exactly what I want to continue doing in esports. I can’t wait to get stuck in and see where we go from here”.