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.
IESF signs host agreement with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation in Astana.
Astana has been confirmed as the host city for the IESF World Esports Championship 2027 (WEC27), following a host agreement signing ceremony involving the International Esports Federation (IESF), the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the Qazaq Cybersport Federation.
IESF said the event is expected to draw participation across more than 150 IESF Member Federations through the qualifiers, with national teams competing via IESF-recognized national member structures.
“WEC27 will be more than a championship. It will be a global celebration of nations, athletes, and the future of esports,” said Vlad Marinescu, President of IESF. “For every player, there is no greater honor than competing under their national flag and officially representing their nation on the world stage. That is what makes the World Esports Championship so powerful and so unique. In 2027, Astana will welcome the world and proudly stand as the Esports Capital in the World of Esports, uniting our Member Federations, athletes, fans, and communities. Kazakhstan has shown remarkable vision, ambition, and commitment, and we are confident that WEC27 will deliver an unforgettable championship and a lasting legacy for the global esports family.”
Yerbol Myrzabosynov, Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: “We are honored that the International Esports Federation has entrusted Kazakhstan with hosting the World Esports Championship 2027. This reflects the confidence in our country’s ability to deliver an event of the highest international standard. Hosting WEC27 reinforces our commitment to advancing esports and creating new opportunities for young people through sport, technology, education, and international cooperation. We look forward to welcoming the World of Esports to Astana and showcasing Kazakhstan as a destination capable of delivering world-class international events.”
Kuanyshbek Yessekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Qazaq Cybersport Federation, added: “We sincerely thank the International Esports Federation for the trust and confidence placed in Kazakhstan to host the World Esports Championship 2027. This is a historic milestone for our esports community and a testament to the progress we have achieved together with our partners. Alongside IESF, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and our national stakeholders, we are committed to delivering an outstanding championship for athletes, fans, and the World of Esports. WEC27 will inspire future generations, accelerate the growth of esports in Kazakhstan, and strengthen our country’s position as a leading esports and digital innovation hub.”
IESF said more details, including schedule, qualification pathway, venues, official titles, ticketing, and the event program, will be announced in the coming months via its official channels.
The post Astana to host IESF World Esports Championship 2027 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Esports and live events operator says it stayed profitable in 2025 and plans 15 arena events across 13 cities in 2026.
BLAST has opened a New York City headquarters in Brooklyn as the company reported record growth and profitability in 2025, including more than $133 million in revenue and over 40% year-over-year growth.
The new U.S. headquarters is located at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space. BLAST said the hub will support partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America as it expands its U.S. operations.
The North American push is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, alongside Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.
BLAST said it has staged seven tier-one esports events in North America over the past 16 months, across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. The company cited “more than $102 million” in economic impact from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. It also recently announced the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.
In 2025, BLAST said its broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched, spanning live events in 22 cities worldwide. The company also said it distributes content via 29 broadcast partners, including SuperSport, France TV and RTBF, reaching audiences in more than 150 territories and 30+ languages.
“Competitive entertainment has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in global media because it combines community, technology and live experiences in entirely new ways,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “The next generation of fans want entertainment that feels participatory, social and global by default. That shift is creating enormous opportunities for brands, publishers, creators and host cities, and we believe BLAST is uniquely positioned to help lead that evolution after a landmark year in 2025.” BLAST said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.
The post BLAST opens New York HQ as 2025 revenue tops $133m on 40%+ growth appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BLAST, the Denmark-founded competitive entertainment and esports events company, reported record growth and continued profitability in 2025 and said it has opened a New York headquarters as it expands across North America.
The company said it delivered more than 40% year-over-year growth and generated more than $133 million in revenue in 2025, while remaining profitable and continuing to invest in global expansion. BLAST said its U.S. headquarters at 45 Main Street in Brooklyn sits within a shared 55,000-square-foot office space and will serve as its central base for partnerships, live events and commercial growth across North America.
The expansion is being led by Chief Business Officer Leo Matlock, who has relocated to New York, and Steve Rossi, who joined earlier this year as SVP of Brand Partnerships. BLAST said its U.S. team has grown to eight full-time employees.
BLAST pointed to recent North American activity, saying it has hosted seven tier-one esports events across Austin, Fort Worth, Boston, Raleigh, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City over the past 16 months. The company said these events have generated economic impact for host destinations, including more than $102 million from the 2025 BLAST.tv Austin Major alone, including more than $9 million in hotel expenditures. BLAST also said the Rocket League World Championship will return to Fort Worth in September 2026.
On content reach, BLAST said its 2025 broadcasts delivered more than 2 billion live views globally and 300 million hours watched across live events in 22 cities, distributed through 29 broadcast partners across online platforms and linear broadcasters. “We’re seeing tremendous momentum globally and all across North America, not just in esports fandom, but in how brands, game publishers, cities and entertainment companies are thinking about gaming culture, engaging competitions and digital-first audiences,” said Leo Matlock, Chief Business Officer at BLAST. The company said it plans to host 15 arena events across 13 cities and three continents in 2026.
The post BLAST reports 40% revenue growth in 2025, opens New York headquarters appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
-
Compliance Updates6 days agoPlayCity Partners with Streaming Platform Kick to Block Illegal Gambling Ads
-
Canada7 days ago
Gaming Corps goes live with OLG iCasino in Ontario
-
3 Oaks Gaming7 days ago
3 Oaks Gaming releases Joker Glitz x1000 slot with stacked multipliers
-
3 Oaks Gaming6 days ago
Weekend Reels | Week 26: Slot Drops & Trends
-
appointments6 days ago
OS Studios names Ishaan Arya country manager to lead India expansion
-
Latest News6 days ago
Relax Gaming Releases its Latest Slot Game “Midnight Marauder – ClusterBreaker”
-
Casino Content6 days ago
PopOK Gaming secures Argentina certification to supply iGaming content
-
Bragg Gaming6 days ago
Mega Casino launches Bragg Gaming slot 10 Hot Diamond Desire as exclusive
