S8UL Esports, one of India’s premier esports organizations, just announced a major partnership expansion with high-performance smartphone brand iQOO on November 27, 2025. iQOO becomes the Title Sponsor for S8UL’s newly formed Pokémon UNITE and MOBA Legends 5v5 rosters, strengthening both teams’ preparation ahead of a landmark 2026 competitive season. This collaboration extends iQOO’s longstanding support of Indian esports while accelerating S8UL’s aggressive multi-title expansion strategy.
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Strategic Partnership: Building on Proven Success
iQOO’s relationship with S8UL isn’t new—it’s built on years of successful collaboration with iQOO SOUL, S8UL’s dominant BGMI roster that recently won the Chennai Esports Global Championship 2025. This proven track record makes the expansion to Pokémon UNITE and MOBA Legends 5v5 a natural progression.
Partnership Structure & Benefits
| Component | Details | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Title Sponsorship | iQOO branding on roster names & jerseys | Brand visibility, professional identity |
| Hardware Support | Gaming-optimized iQOO smartphones | Enhanced training, tournament performance |
| Team Names | iQOO S8UL Pokémon UNITE, iQOO S8UL MOBA Legends 5v5 | Unified brand presence |
| Jersey Branding | iQOO logo prominently featured | Tournament exposure, fan engagement |
| Competition Readiness | Tools for domestic & international preparation | Competitive advantage |
This comprehensive support package positions both rosters for sustained competitive success while deepening iQOO’s footprint across India’s expanding esports ecosystem.
For esports sponsorship trends, explore our gaming industry analysis.
Pokémon UNITE Roster: South Asia’s Dominant Force
The iQOO S8UL Pokémon UNITE roster represents the region’s elite talent, led by captain Manmohan Singh (AllMight) with a lineup that’s consistently dominated South Asian competition:
Complete Roster:
- Manmohan Singh (AllMight) – Captain
- Rahul Sharad Lavhate (Kyurem) – Core player
- Deep Patel (Snowyy) – Strategic specialist
- Adnan Badshah (Badshahh) – Aggressive playmaker
- Rudra Narayan Nayak (ReX) – Versatile support
Championship Pedigree:
- 3 regional championships in the last 3 years
- Consistent World Championship representation for India
- Top-ranked South Asia roster (widely acknowledged)
- International stage experience (Pokémon UNITE World Championship)
This roster’s immediate challenge: competing at the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2026 – India starting November 29, where they’ll debut under the iQOO S8UL banner.
For Pokémon UNITE strategy guides, check our mobile esports tactics.
MOBA Legends 5v5: Experienced Roster With International Credentials
The newly signed iQOO S8UL MOBA Legends 5v5 roster brings impressive tournament experience and community-tournament dominance:
Complete Lineup:
- Mohammad Saad (Apex) – In-game leader (Esports World Cup veteran)
- Abhijeet Katkar (Abhi) – Strategic coordinator
- Mehta Jay (J) – Mid-game specialist
- Chirag Singh (Radium) – Aggressive carry
- Debasish Sana (Anti) – Defensive anchor
- Anush N (Fear) – Versatile substitute
Notable Achievement: Captain Apex competed at the MLBB Mid Season Cup 2024 at the Esports World Cup, a tournament featuring a staggering USD 3 million (₹26.7 crore) prize pool—demonstrating the roster’s ability to compete at the highest international level.
The team’s impressive track record across India’s community-led MOBA tournaments positions them as serious contenders for national and regional championships in 2026.
CEO Perspective: Strategic Multi-Title Expansion
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports, explained the partnership’s significance: “iQOO has been with S8UL for a long time, starting with our BGMI team, and their support has played an important role in our journey. Extending this partnership to our Pokémon UNITE and MOBA Legends 5v5 teams is a natural next step as we grow across more titles. Our focus at S8UL is to build strong, well-prepared rosters in every game we enter, and working with a partner like iQOO helps us give our players the tools they need to compete with confidence in India and internationally.”
This statement underscores S8UL’s methodical approach—expanding into new titles with proper infrastructure, proven partners, and championship-caliber rosters.
Recent Achievements: Industry Leadership
This partnership announcement comes amid S8UL’s remarkable 2025 performance:
Esports World Cup 2025:
- First and only Indian organization selected for Club Partner Program
- Placed among world’s elite esports organizations
- Historic milestone for Indian esports
Esports Awards 2025:
- “Esports Content Group of the Year” – 4th consecutive win
- “Esports Personality of the Year” – Animesh “8Bit Thug” Agarwal
- Unmatched influence across esports and creator ecosystems
These accolades validate S8UL’s dual excellence: competitive dominance and content creation mastery—a rare combination in global esports.
For esports career opportunities, visit our professional gaming guides.
iQOO’s Esports Ecosystem Investment
iQOO’s title sponsorship extends beyond simple branding—it represents sustained investment in India’s esports infrastructure:
Multi-Year Commitment:
- Long-term partnership with S8UL (starting with BGMI)
- Support for multiple esports titles
- Hardware provisioning for professional training
- Tournament visibility across major events
Competitive Advantages:
- Gaming-optimized smartphones (high refresh rates, low latency)
- Reliable performance under tournament pressure
- Advanced cooling systems for extended sessions
- Professional-grade build quality
This strategic support helps Indian teams compete internationally with the same equipment advantages as global competitors.
Why This Partnership Matters for Indian Esports
1. Multi-Title Professionalization: S8UL demonstrates sustainable growth across diverse games, not just one title 2. Long-Term Partnership Model: iQOO’s extended commitment shows brand confidence in Indian esports’ future 3. International Preparation: Hardware and support enabling teams to compete globally 4. Ecosystem Development: Major brands investing in tier-2/tier-3 esports titles beyond BGMI/Valorant 5. Creator-Competitor Balance: S8UL proving organizations can excel in both competitive play and content
For industry growth analysis, explore our esports market trends.
2026 Season: High-Stakes Competition Ahead
Both rosters face critical tournaments in 2026:
iQOO S8UL Pokémon UNITE:
- Immediate: Asia Champions League 2026 – India (Nov 29 start)
- Mid-Term: Regional championship defense
- Long-Term: World Championship qualification
iQOO S8UL MOBA Legends 5v5:
- National tournament circuit
- Regional qualification events
- Potential international tournament appearances
The iQOO partnership ensures both teams enter this crucial season with optimal preparation tools and professional backing.
The Bottom Line
S8UL Esports’ expanded partnership with iQOO as Title Sponsor for Pokémon UNITE and MOBA Legends 5v5 rosters represents strategic growth built on proven success. With championship-caliber lineups—including South Asia’s dominant Pokémon UNITE roster and an internationally experienced MOBA Legends squad—backed by high-performance iQOO devices, S8UL positions itself for a landmark 2026 season. As the first Indian organization in the Esports World Cup Club Partner Program and four-time Esports Content Group winner, S8UL continues setting benchmarks for Indian esports’ global ambitions.
Follow S8UL Esports’ championship journey and stay updated on Indian esports at TechnoSports.
Aspiring to go pro in esports? Learn about competitive gaming career paths in our esports professional guide and discover what it takes to reach championship level.
