Team SOUL, a leading name in Indian eSports, has announced an exclusive six-month title sponsorship with iQOO, marking a first in India’s eSports history. The partnership goes beyond individual tournaments and strengthens Team SOUL’s status within the competitive gaming community. The official ‘iQOO SOUL’ jersey was launched by Animesh Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Team SOUL, and Nipun Marya, CEO of iQOO.
Team SOUL onboards iQOO as title sponsor; becomes ‘iQOO SOUL’ as first-of-its-kind partnership unfolds in Indian Esports history
Team SOUL, led by Sahil Jhakar (SOUL Omega), includes renowned BGMI athletes Sohail Shaikh (SOUL Hector), Akshat Goel (SOUL Akshat), Naman Adiani (SOUL Neyo), and Harsh Paudwal (SOUL Goblin). The team is known for its victories in major tournaments like the PUBG Mobile India Series 2019, the PUBG Mobile Cup Open Spring Split: India, and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series 2022.
Animesh Agarwal expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that it signifies a historic moment in Indian Esports and underscores their shared vision of advancing the sector. He further added that this collaboration underscores iQOO SOUL’s position as a dominant force in the industry, setting a new standard.
iQOO has been a significant contributor to the eSports landscape in India, organizing its own tournaments, partnering with Krafton for official BGMI tournaments, and aligning with third-party tournaments. The smartphone giant also served as the official eSports gaming phone partner for the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou.
Nipun Marya, CEO of the smartphone giant, described the partnership as a milestone in Indian eSports, reflecting their joint commitment to elevating the eSports landscape in the country.
According to Newzoo’s ‘2022 Global Esports and Live Streaming Market Report’, sponsorships are the primary revenue source for eSports, generating $837.3 million in 2022, accounting for nearly 60% of the entire market. The FICCI-EY report on India’s Media and Entertainment industry predicts an increase in the number of brands investing in eSports in India, from 80 in 2022 to 100 in 2023.
The newly formed iQOO SOUL will participate in the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series finals on December 15-17 at the Eka Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
