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

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– 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.

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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.

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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)

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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)

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Tekken 8: Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino)

We sat down with Ines Ledo, Content Lead at BetBrothers.es, to discuss the core principles behind BetBrothers’ content strategy, and what it takes to create a trusted resource for the Spanish betting community.

Ines, please share with us how you first became involved in the sports betting industry, and what led you to your current role as Content Lead at BetBrothers.es?

I started more than five years ago as a content writer, focusing on online casinos and sports betting. From the beginning, I really enjoyed the industry, and over time, I started managing content and leading a team of writers in another top affiliate project in Spain. That experience gave me a wider understanding of how the industry works, and especially, how important content is in the iGaming world. Exceptional content is a force driving engagement and market differentiation.

Now, as a Content Lead at BetBrothers, my mission is to channel all that experience into an ambitious vision. Here, we are aiming to create the most trusted resource for the Spanish betting community. This means going beyond surface-level information and entertainment. Our content is built around three key pillars — quality, value, and responsibility. It is created to help our users enjoy sports betting as a safe and fun form of entertainment.

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Can you tell us about your core content philosophy and how it differentiates BetBrothers.es from other affiliates in Spain?

Over the years, I’ve seen how content has become less personal. Today, many articles sound the same, like they’re made in a factory, without real experiences or useful information for the user.

At BetBrothers, we want to do the opposite. We believe in authentic content, written by real people who test betting sites and online casinos. They don’t just look around. They deposit, they play, they interact with customer support, they research the terms and conditions, and then they compare these experiences, sharing their personal perspectives.

We’re user-first, always. Our philosophy is to provide real value to the user with our content, with responsibility as a basis, as we aim to contribute to creating a safer and more enjoyable betting environment for our readers. That commitment to honesty, authenticity and responsible betting is what makes us different.

How do you balance creating evergreen content (like guides) with timely, event-driven betting tips, especially considering the dynamic Spanish sports calendar?

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Balancing evergreen and timely content is indeed a basis of our strategy. We do it through good planning and efficient team management.

On one hand, we have stable content like operator reviews and how-to guides on betting strategies — this is the foundation of the project. Such content educates users, provides lasting value, and forms the backbone of our search engine presence.

On the other hand, we produce daily betting tips from our sports experts. These bring dynamic elements to our content and keep users engaged on a daily basis. Our experts have truckloads of experience, some of them are sports analysts with deep statistical knowledge of specific leagues. So for us it’s also an opportunity to showcase our analytical capabilities.

Both types of content are equally important: one provides lasting value, the other keeps the user connected and engaged day by day.

Many affiliates diversify traffic sources. Beyond organic search, what other marketing channels are you exploring for BetBrothers.es?

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Organic traffic, born from deep and useful content we provide, is definitely very valuable both for us and our partners. It’s the validation of value we deliver to users searching for information. However, we are actively expanding our reach.

Social media is already a key element of our multi-channel strategy. It’s a great way to build presence, engage in meaningful conversations with the users, and develop a community around our products.

We believe video content will become more and more important in the future too. It allows for richer, more engaging storytelling, and helps us build deeper connections with our audience. ​​Our philosophy is simple: meet users where they are, and connect with them beyond Google.

From your perspective, how has player behavior in the Spanish sports betting market evolved over the past few years, and how is BetBrothers.es adapting its content to meet these changing needs?

Today’s users are much more demanding, that’s for sure. They have more information, they compare everything available to them, and they look for real product value — both in the bookmakers and in the websites they visit. At BetBrothers.es, we thrive in this environment.

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We don’t just repeat what everyone else says or does. Instead, we focus on creating useful content, replying to the questions readers may have, explaining complex features in a clear and easy way, test the products and give an opinion based on real experience.

Also, we put a big emphasis on responsible gambling by offering practical advice. We do that, as we believe this is an essential part of the value we should provide to the betting community.

Looking ahead, what are the key strategic priorities for BetBrothers.es in the next 12-18 months to continue its growth and strengthen its position in the Spanish market?

For the next 12-18 months, our goal is to find the perfect balance between three non-negotiable pillars: useful and high-quality content, a user experience adapted to today’s standards — especially on mobile — and a strong focus on safe and responsible gambling.

Our ultimate aim is for every BetBrothers visitor to instantly feel that they are at the most trusted sports betting hub in Spain. A place where they’ll find clear, honest and helpful information to make informed and enjoyable betting decisions.

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Skyesports announced today that iQOO has joined the Skyesports Championship 2025, India’s longest-running homegrown esports IP, as the title sponsor for the BGMI Grand Finals.

Scheduled to take place from May 15th to 18th, 2025, the Grand Finals will feature the top 16 teams from across India, narrowed down through open qualifiers that attracted thousands of aspiring players from all parts of the country, competing for the ultimate title and a share of the INR 17.5 lakhs prize pool.

With India’s best teams in action, the Grand Finals serve as the perfect platform to highlight the iQOO Neo 10, the fastest smartphone in the segment, powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor. The device enables esports-level gaming with 144 FPS, making it well-suited for high-performance mobile competition.

iQOO Neo 10 joins industry leading brands including ‘powered by’ partner AMD along with associate partners, Western Digital, Red Bull, and GIGABYTE.

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Adding to the excitement, the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship Grand Finals will introduce a unique and never-seen-before format in BGMI esports: the Sky Champ Rule. Under this format, teams must reach a points threshold and then secure a winner-winner chicken dinner (WWCD) to be crowned champions of the tournament.

This innovative structure brings an added layer of strategy and unpredictability to the final stage. The tournament has already surpassed 25 million views and hit a peak concurrent viewership of over 100,000, showcasing the growing anticipation for the Grand Finals.

Commenting on the partnership, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said: “The Skyesports Championship has grown into one of the largest and most recognizable esports IPs in India, consistently bringing together top talent from across the country. It’s this scale, reach, and grassroots foundation that makes the IP a compelling platform for leading brands like iQOO to engage with the gaming community. We’re excited to have them on board as the title sponsor for the Grand Finals and look forward to delivering an unforgettable last stage through our unique Sky Champ format.”

The 16 qualified teams for the iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship Grand Finals are:

• Vasista Esports
• True Rippers
• Learn From Past
• Cincinnati Kids
• Money Makerz
• Rising Inferno Esports
• Wyld Fans
• Autobotz Esports
• Gods Reign
• Alibaba Raiders
• 4Merical Esports
• Team iQOO Soul
• Team iQOO 8Bit
• Blitz Esports
• RivalryxNRI
• Team Versatile

The iQOO Neo 10 Skyesports Championship 2025 BGMI Grand Finals will be streamed exclusively on the Skyesports YouTube channel from May 15th to 18th, 2025. Fans tuning in will also stand a chance to win exciting prizes, with further details to be revealed during the livestream.