eSports
iQOOSouL reigns supreme at Android BGMS Season 3 final; bags major share of INR 1 crore prize pool
After three days of intense competition, the finale of Android Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS) Season 3, India’s premier esports event culminated with iQOOSouL being crowned champions and solidifying their place at the pinnacle of the nation’s esports landscape.
Organised by NODWIN Gaming, a global new-age youth gaming, esports, and entertainment company, Android BGMS Season 3 brought together the nation’s top esports teams showcasing the best of BGMI talent in action. The finals, featuring 16 teams, took place at the Android Arena in Chhatarpur, New Delhi, from August 9 to 11.
iQOOSouL, one of the most distinguished teams in Indian esports, delivered a stellar performance across all of the 12 matches. Under the leadership of in-game leader (IGL) Mohammad Raja (Manya), and comprising Khush Singh (Jokerr), Manpreet Singh (Rony), Nakul Sharma (NakuL), and Saumay Anand (Saumay), the team began the finals with a solid start on Day 1, amassing 34 points to secure fifth place in the table. On Day 2, they added 49 points to move into second place.
In a dramatic finish to the tournament, iQOOSouL narrowly edged out Entity by just two points on the final day to capture the coveted trophy. The team recorded three Winner Winner Chicken Dinners (WWCD) and 40 points, which brought their total to 123 points, while Entity finished as runners-up with 121 points. Team Tamilas secured third place with 113 points.
Sharing his excitement after winning the tournament, Mohammad Raja aka Manya, IGL of iQOOSouL expressed, “Winning the Android BGMS Season 3 title is beyond words. I’m incredibly proud of my team for their unwavering dedication, countless hours of practice, and the strategic planning that brought us to this level. It’s the team’s love for the sport and sheer hard work that propelled us to the top spot. This victory is even more special because it’s shared with our fans. Given the intense competition we faced, this win is truly special. Team iQOOSouL is back, stronger than ever and we promise – this is just the beginning.”
With an overall prize pool of INR 1 crore, iQOOSouL walked away with a well-deserved INR 55 lakhs, while Entity secured INR 15 lakhs, and Team Tamilas earned INR 7.5 lakhs. Ankit Shukla (AKOP) of Team Orangutan was honoured with the TVS Raider Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament award as well as the Most Wicked Player award for his outstanding individual performances and claimed INR 1 lakh in prize money. Moreover, Harshit Yadav (Beast) of Global Esports was awarded the Audience Favorite Raider award for his remarkable displays.
“Congratulations to iQOOSouL for their exceptional display on the final day that earned them the prestigious trophy, and to Orangutan’s AKOP for his consistent performance and winning the TVS Raider MVP and the Most Wicked Player award. Android BGMS Season 3 has been a spectacle for viewers and a testament to the incredible growth and potential of esports in India. This year, we have witnessed some of the best talent the country has to offer, and the passion and energy brought by the players and fans alike have been nothing short of extraordinary. Our partners have also played a crucial role in elevating the tournament to new heights,” said Gautam Virk, Co-founder and CEO of NODWIN Gaming.
Spanning over 22 action-packed days, Android BGMS Season 3 once again proved to be a monumental event in the Indian esports landscape. The tournament, broadcasted on Star Sports for the third consecutive year, has been instrumental in bringing esports to the mainstream and making it accessible to millions of fans across the country.
Furthermore, with the introduction of features like Powerplay, Impact Player, and Bounty, the tournament has led the way in redefining competitive esports in India. To elevate the excitement further, NODWIN Gaming also hosted an experiential carnival on Day 3 of the finals which featured various engaging brand experience zones from Garnier Men, Android, and Red Bull, a live performance from hip-hop artist Chaar Diwaari as well as a view party of the finals.
The final day of the tournament saw a peak concurrent viewership of over 350,000 on YouTube and more than 3.8 million views across the Hindi and English streams. Additionally, the overall tournament accumulated over 4.75 million hours of watch time and an average viewership surpassing 1.8 million.
“This year’s BGMS was particularly special and innovative which offered a fresh and exciting experience for both players and fans alike. To bring the community together, we organised the Android BGMS Carnival, which became one of the highlights of the season. Through the tournament’s continued presence on Star Sports and its growing viewership, we are proud to see our IP establish new standards for both esports and youth entertainment in India,” further added Gautam Virk.
This year, NODWIN Gaming joined hands with renowned brands like Android and Garnier Men, marking their entry into the Indian esports scene. Additionally, Crunchyroll and Redbull came on board as partners, while TVS Raider and Phillips Oneblade extended their ongoing support, all contributing to the tournament’s success and enhancing the experience for fans.
The post iQOOSouL reigns supreme at Android BGMS Season 3 final; bags major share of INR 1 crore prize pool appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
anime
G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25
The esports organisation’s second anime apparel collaboration will be sold exclusively via g2esports.com/shop.
G2 is launching a limited-edition G2 | One Piece capsule collection on June 25, with the drop available exclusively through the organisation’s online store at g2esports.com/shop.
The collection is inspired by One Piece’s Gear 5 Monkey D. Luffy and includes hoodies, zip-ups, t-shirts, caps, sleeves, and tote bags. According to G2, the items use a black-and-white palette and feature a minimalist embroidered logo alongside a custom G2 | One Piece Jolly Roger that combines the G2 samurai emblem with Luffy’s straw hat.
“At G2, we’re continuing to push the culture and fashion of esports beyond competition alone, and this One Piece collection is a natural extension of that,” says Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2 Esports. “We wanted to create a capsule that continues to elevate the esports fashion space – understated, premium, and stylish enough for everyday wear, while still carrying the spirit of adventure, ambition, and individuality that defines One Piece and G2 alike. Every piece is designed to bridge the gap between fandom and everyday style, and continuing our mission to redefine what esports fashion can be.”
G2 described the drop as its second anime collaboration, following a previous apparel collaboration with Solo Leveling. The company positioned the release as part of its broader effort to connect esports, anime, and streetwear.
One Piece debuted in 1999 and remains one of the largest anime franchises globally. G2 cited over 600 million manga copies sold and more than 1,160 episodes for the series.
The post G2 drops limited-edition One Piece streetwear capsule on June 25 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Study: 400m Gen Z esports fans say brand activations drive purchases
EFG, Hero Esports and Niko Partners survey 8,000 fans across eight markets; 74% report ads and brand presence influence buying.
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), Hero Esports and Niko Partners have released a multi-country Gen Z esports study claiming around 400 million Gen Z consumers (20%) regularly engage with esports. The findings were published on 25th June 2026 in Cannes, France, in a white paper titled The Esports Generation: Who They Are & Why They Spend.
The report is based on survey data from 8,000 Gen Z esports fans aged 13-30 across eight markets. It positions esports as a high-attention channel for brands: 85% of respondents said they notice branding in esports, while 74% self-reported that advertising and brand participation in gaming spaces influences their purchasing behaviour. The study also reports that 66% have bought a product following a collaboration or co-branding partnership with an esports team, game or player.
On consumption and fandom touchpoints, the study found 71% regularly watch gaming content, including 66% who watch gaming livestreams and 33% who watch or listen to gaming podcasts. It also points to offline reach: 21% said they regularly attend gaming conventions and esports events, with the average respondent attending at least one in-person event in the past nine months.
The white paper also breaks out claimed purchase categories linked to esports collaborations over the past year, led by food and beverage (33%), electronics (33%) and fashion (32%). Beyond core categories, it reports 28% bought esports-related collectibles, 17% purchased makeup, beauty, or skincare products, and 10% bought from partnered brands in other categories.
Niccolo Maisto, CEO at ESL FACEIT Group said: “Esports has evolved into one of the most effective channels for companies looking to connect with Gen Z audiences at scale. What makes it unique is not just its reach, but the depth of engagement and trust that exists between fans, players, teams, and events. This research shows that esports fans are highly invested participants, not passive viewers, creating an opportunity for brands that show up authentically and build meaningful and lasting connections with this key audience.”
Danny Tang, Co-Founder and CEO of Hero Esports said: “This whitepaper confirms what we at Hero Esports have long believed: esports has evolved into a global cultural and economic force. The data shows an audience that is young, diverse, and deeply engaged. For brands, the message is clear—esports is no longer a niche market; it is the premier platform to connect with the next generation of consumers. We are proud to partner with Niko Partners and EFG to provide this blueprint for understanding and succeeding in this dynamic industry.”
Lisa Hanson, CEO at Niko Partners said: “Our data shows that, much like fans of other sports, Gen Z esports fans are incredibly passionate and have formed strong bonds within their communities. However, their media and consumer affinities extend well beyond gaming and esports, with our research revealing naturally connected interest areas that create valuable overlapping opportunities for brands and partners that show up authentically in this ecosystem.”
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eSports
How Not to Tilt When Facing Challenges: NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and GG.BET Have Released a Special Project about Mental Health
NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and NAVI’s title sponsor GG.BET have unveiled Tilt Management, a special project dedicated to mental health. The initiative consists of three in-depth articles covering demotivation, burnout, and dealing with hate – some of the most common mental health challenges faced not only by esports players, but also by their fans. The project places a strong emphasis on practical value, featuring real-life esports cases, proven advice and everyday practices, as well as self-support exercises readers can apply on their own.
Mental health is becoming increasingly relevant year after year, regardless of profession or lifestyle. Many of the challenges professional players experience are familiar to millions of people in their everyday lives. These include loss of purpose, poor work-life balance, conflicts within teams, vulnerability to criticism, and more. While esports professionals can rely on performance coaches and team staff for support, people outside the industry often have to seek professional help on their own – something that does not always happen. One of the key goals of the project is to support people who may not have access to professional guidance by explaining how different issues manifest themselves, offering practical tools for self-care and recovery, and highlighting when it is important to seek help from specialists.
The first article focuses on demotivation. It explains how to recognize its early signs, how to distinguish it from simple exhaustion, and what NAVI does to prevent players from reaching this state. Particular attention is paid to techniques that help regain focus, manage daily routines, and gradually restore energy.
The second article explores burnout both within and beyond esports. Readers can assess themselves using descriptions of the five stages of burnout and their symptoms, learn about NAVI’s approach to maintaining performance under a demanding schedule, and discover why variety in everyday life and taking smaller, more frequent breaks are essential elements of burnout prevention.
The final chapter of the project addresses hate and negativity. It explains why hatred and aggression ultimately say more about the hater than the target, how to establish healthy boundaries, and how to avoid being consumed by criticism – especially self-criticism. NAVI’s strategy for dealing with hate, combined with practical exercises, can help readers to challenge negative thoughts and distinguish constructive feedback from a stream of harmful negativity.
All articles from the Tilt Management special project are available on EGamersWorld.
The post How Not to Tilt When Facing Challenges: NAVI Performance Coach Urszula Klimczak and GG.BET Have Released a Special Project about Mental Health appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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