MUMBAI: In a move that sends a clear signal to the global esports arena, S8ul Esports has charged into Riot Games' League of Legends (LOL) circuit by acquiring a top-tier south Asian roster. With this, the Mumbai-based organisation becomes one of the few Indian entities to actively field teams across 12 premier esports titles.

The announcement marks S8ul’s formal entry into one of the world’s most competitive games. The roster features veterans of the regional LOL scene — Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Ahmed Shahid (Nero), Mihir Ranjan (Angelslotus) from India, Mehrab Uddin Ahmed (RTO) from Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka’s Tharuka Fernando (KratoZ).

The squad has already proven its mettle, having represented India at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, where esports debuted as an official medal event. They advanced to the quarterfinals and finished fifth, besting regional rivals and raising the Indian tricolour in a field dominated by east Asian giants.

"League of Legends is one of the most iconic esports titles in the world, and we believe this is the right moment for S8ul to step onto that stage", said S8ul co-founder & CEO Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug. "Our vision has always been to lead from the front".

The roster enters Legends Ascend 2025, India’s first publisher-driven amateur LOL tournament, with a prize pool of Rs 10 lakh. Slated to end on 3 August, the tournament offers its champion a direct ticket to the LCP Wildcard Playoffs — the gateway to the prestigious League of Legends Championship Pacific.

The team’s past accolades speak volumes: under Temple of Kings, they claimed victories in Skyesports WD Black Cup 1 & 2, Pro League, and SMG South Asia Cup 1, 2, and 3. In 2025, they continued their winning run under Asterisk with four more titles before signing with S8ul.

“Joining S8ul is a defining moment for us”, said Akshaj ‘Kat Bot’ Shenoy, team captain. “We’ve been grinding together for years, and now we’re ready to prove our mettle at the highest level”.

S8ul now boasts a star-studded portfolio of competitive lineups in Apex Legends, Battlegrounds Mobile India, Call of Duty: Warzone, Chess, EAFC 25, Fatal Fury, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Pokémon Unite, Starcraft II, Tekken 8, Valorant, and League of Legends.

With eyes set on the global stage and a ticket to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh already secured, S8ul is proving it’s not just playing games — it’s rewriting the playbook for Indian esports.