A Fusion of Global Talent and Indian Excellence at EWC 2026

A Mix of International Talent & Indian Representation for EWC 2026

S8UL Esports has officially announced the signing of Indian Chess Grandmaster Pranesh M, bolstering its roster for the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026. This strategic move highlights the organization’s commitment to blending international talent with strong Indian representation across 12 competitive titles.

Pranesh joins fellow Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, creating a formidable chess lineup that aims to make waves at the prestigious tournament. With the chess competition returning after a successful debut last year, all eyes are set on the event scheduled from August 11 to 15, where players will vie for a staggering $1.5 million (~INR 14 crore) prize pool.

Chess Competition Heats Up

The chess segment of EWC 2026 promises to be thrilling, featuring the world’s elite players. The defending champion automatically qualifies, alongside two players from the Speed Chess Championship 2025 and one from the Chess.com Open 2026. Currently, S8UL’s Nihal Sarin ranks seventh, while Pranesh holds the fifteenth spot in the Champions Chess Tour standings, making them the highest-ranked Indian contenders.

Additional qualification opportunities will arise at DreamHack Atlanta from May 15 to 17, which offers four spots, as well as Last Chance Qualifiers closer to the tournament date.

S8UL’s Diverse Roster for EWC 2026

S8UL is set to compete across a wide array of genres, including mobile, PC, console, fighting games, racing, battle royale, and strategy titles. The organization aims to leave a significant mark at EWC 2026 in Riyadh, where over 2,000 players from 200 clubs across more than 100 countries will compete for a record-breaking $75 million (~INR 711 crore) prize pool.

Here’s a glimpse of S8UL’s official roster:

• Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), Tom Canty (Legacy)
• Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI): Aaryaman Seth (Thunder), Harsh Paudwal (Goblin), Khush Singh (Jokerr), Nakul Sharma (NakuL), Yash Choudhary (LEGIT)
• Call of Duty (COD): Warzone: Aidan Provenzano (Knight), Chris Paez (Clumziy), Raul Mercado III (Rxul)
• Chess: Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, Pranesh M
• EA Sports FC: Aditya Chadha (Krusher), Jonas Wirth (Jonny), Julien Perbal (Fouma)
• Fighting Games: Ansh Arora (Closing Regent), Prateek Bhaunt (B Haunt), Prince (Prince)
• Fortnite: David Ciubotariu (Faded), Kaan Tafli (Kaan)
• Honor of Kings: Darkness, Meruem, Xtreme, XesoL, Kyurem, Kael, Doffy, Kong
• MOBA Legends 5v5: Bikash Tamang (Bobe), Chirag Singh (Radium), Debasish Sana (Anti), Jay Mehta (J), Mohammad Saad (Apex), Muhammad Syahroni (Ronn)
• TEKKEN 8: Akhil Kakar (Tetsu), Gurashish Singh (Soul), Mohammad Sameer (AK Arhaan), Nakul Sharma (Weak Akuma)
• Trackmania: Alexander Page (Whizzy), Kunal Upreti (Spark), Neal Kamdar (Neal)

A New Era for Indian Esports

This year, S8UL has expanded its roster by adding new players across various titles, including Chess, COD: Warzone, EA Sports FC, Fatal Fury, Fortnite, Honor of Kings, Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, and Trackmania. The organization continues to support established lineups in Apex Legends, BGMI, and MOBA Legends 5v5.

A standout initiative is S8UL’s Talent Hunt Program for fighting games, which has identified six Indian athletes for Fatal Fury, Street Fighter 6, and TEKKEN 8. These players will receive professional coaching, tournament support, and integration into S8UL’s content ecosystem, paving the way for future Indian talent in the global arena.

Looking Ahead

Naman Mathur, Co-founder of S8UL, expressed his enthusiasm: “The Esports World Cup is the biggest stage in competitive gaming. We have built rosters that combine international stars with top talent from India. Competing at this level requires patience, planning, and a supportive culture for players to excel.”

With a robust global presence and a mix of returning champions and new talent, S8UL is poised to elevate India’s standing in the world of esports at EWC 2026.

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