The Red Bull M.E.O. 2024 BGMI Grand Finals concluded in spectacular fashion at the Chennai Trade Centre, with Vasista Esports emerging as the champions. The team, which flew under the radar leading up to the finals, delivered a phenomenal performance to claim the coveted title.

Coming into the Grand Finals, Vasista Esports had placed 13th in the semifinals, raising doubts about their chances. However, the roster maintained consistency throughout the 18 matches in the grand finals, propelling them to the top of the standings table with 153 points.

The journey to victory wasn’t without challenges. While Vasista Esports took an early lead, they faced stiff resistance from formidable teams like Orangutan, Gods Reign, and Soul Esports during the intense L.AN finale.

In fact, Orangutan almost clinched the title in the penultimate game where they picked up 10 finishes and placed second. But, with Vasista Esports playing it safe to place second in that match, they maintained their position at the top. Orangutan ended as the runners-up with a mere 6 point difference to Vasista Esports.

With this victory, Vasista Esports not only earns the prestigious title but also an exclusive Red Bull F1 experience, where the team will travel to witness a live Formula 1 race in 2025.

In a post match interview, Vasista Esports Pukar said, “We are feeling really good. Honestly, we have been trying to win for the past two seasons and even finished second once. This time, we have won it all and can’t wait to watch the FI race live.”

On their consistency, the player added, “We approached each game with a fresh mindset, taking it one game at a time and leaving behind the results of the previous matches.”

The Red Bull M.E.O. 2024 featured open qualifiers with thousands of players from across India competing for a chance to shine on the big stage. Ultimately, 16 teams battled it out in the Grand Finals at the Chennai Trade Centre. The tournament achieved remarkable success, drawing ove 20fe concurrent viewers. Skyesports had executed the event.

NODWIN Gaming, a global leader in esports and gaming in emerging markets, has officially secured the exclusive rights to distribute the 10th edition of The Game Awards in India, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan. This landmark agreement brings the highly anticipated annual celebration of video games and esports excellence to a wider international audience, marking a new chapter in the awards’ global reach and stands testament to NODWIN Gaming’s partnership with The Game Awards for over half a decade and its commitment to empowering gaming culture in emerging markets across the world.

Starting in 2014, The Game Awards is the annual awards ceremony honouring achievements in the video game industry. This extremely prestigious event for the gaming industry across the globe will now be broadcast and delivered in additional markets through this licensing deal. In 2023, this event often known as the ‘Oscars of Gaming’ garnered 118 million Global livestreams. It has seen renowned presenters like Al Pacino, Keanu Reeves, Margot Robbie, Dwayne Johnson, Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland, and many more; with performances by musicians like- Sting, Imagine Dragons, Green Day, Hans Zimmer, Deadmau5, and more. The Gaming Awards sits at the center of popular culture – a platform that game publishers, studios, streamers, the music industry, and cutting-edge brands use to break big news and surprises to a global audience. The 10th anniversary of the Game Awards is slated for 12th December 2024.

Spearheaded by NODWIN Gaming, The Game Awards are set to be accessible through 17 additional distribution channels including TV, regional OTT, Online stations, and influencers channels, across India, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, enhancing reach and visibility in some of the world’s fastest-growing markets for gaming and esports.

For over half a decade, NODWIN Gaming has worked closely with Geoff Keighley and this new phase in NODWIN’s partnership with The Game Awards underscores its commitment to empowering the gaming ecosystem across these emerging territories. By securing exclusive rights, NODWIN Gaming aims to foster a deeper connection between global gaming culture and local audiences, establishing a seamless viewing experience for fans and supporters in each region.

Speaking on NODWIN Gaming bringing The Game Awards to emerging markets, Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said, “As NODWIN Gaming continues to expand into new markets, we are thrilled to bring The Game Awards to fans across emerging markets. Our goal has always been to bridge the gap between global gaming content and the youth audience in high-growth markets. NODWIN Gaming has been a long-time supporter and partner of The Game Awards and their commitment to empowering gaming across the world aligns perfectly with our mission to support and showcase gaming excellence internationally.”

Geoff Keighley, the Founder and Host of the Game Awards said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with NODWIN to bring The Game Awards to more viewers in more emerging markets around the world. Our 10th-anniversary show will be the biggest global celebration of games.”

By building upon its strategic network and distribution partnerships, NODWIN Gaming will provide unparalleled access to The Game Awards, tapping into the massive potential of these regions. With NODWIN Gaming’s expertise in delivering captivating gaming and esports content to youth demographics, the Game Awards’ distribution is poised to become a defining milestone for gaming culture in these regions.

The Pokémon Company, with Skyesports as the esports partner, has announced an exciting new grassroots esports tournament, the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025. Open for all players across the country, this competition offers an opportunity for aspiring pro players to represent India on the global stage.

Registrations for the tournament are now live and will remain open until Jan. 29, 2025. Players from across the country can sign up on the official website to secure their spot and compete for national pride and international glory.

The Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament boasts a massive prize pool of $10,000. The stakes are even higher, though, as the tournament winner will join the champion of the Pokémon UNITE ACL India League as India’s representatives in an international tournament. This international competition is the Pokémon UNITE Asia Champions League 2025 Finals which will bring the best-of-the-best from across Asia to Shinjuku, Japan on March 29 and 30 to fight for the ultimate title!

• The Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 will begin with the Qualifier Stage, which will follow a single-elimination bracket.
• The top 16 teams from the qualifiers will advance to the Group Stage. Here, they will be evenly split into 4 groups where a single round-robin format will be followed.
• Finally, the top two teams from each group will progress to the Playoffs. These top 8 teams will compete in this penultimate stage across a double-elimination bracket for glory and the chance to represent India on the international stage.

The Pokémon Company executive said, “While the ACL India League supports the top-tier organizations of the country, the Winter Tournament highlights our commitment to grassroots development. By supporting players at every level—from grassroots to the pro scene—we aim to ensure the sustainable growth of Pokémon UNITE esports in India.”

Commenting on the tournament, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, said, “With the ongoing Pokémon UNITE ACL India League bringing esports action to thousands of players, we are now thrilled to introduce the open-for-all Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament. This competition gives every aspiring pro player a chance to shine and represent the country in Japan. As long-term partners of The Pokémon Company, the tournament underscores Skyesports’ vision of giving Indian players and teams a chance to compete on the global stage. I wish the best of luck to all participants.”

With its intense 10-minute matches, Pokémon UNITE has seen remarkable growth in India, attracting a vibrant community of players and fans. The Winter Tournament is the latest effort to nurture and expand this ecosystem.

Today’s announcement follows the Pokémon UNITE ACL India League, where The Pokémon Company has directly invited India’s top eight esports organizations to compete, which includes the likes of S8UL, GodLike, Revenant XSpark, and Global Esports. The tournament, currently ongoing, is set to wrap up on Jan. 26, 2025. Immediately after, Skyesports will kick off the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament to continue the momentum of Pokémon UNITE esports in the country.

The complete schedule for the Pokémon UNITE Winter Tournament India 2025 is as follows:

• Registrations: Until Jan. 29
• Qualifier Stage: Feb. 1 and 2
• Group Stage: Feb. 8
• Playoffs: Feb. 9