It’s a clean run for S8UL Esports in South Asia. The Indian organization have been crowned champions of Legends Ascend South Asia 2025 and will represent the region at the League of Legends Champions Pacific (LCP) Wild Card Playoffs later this month.

S8UL entered League of Legends with a twist. Before the start of the Group Stage in June, they acquired the full roster and slot of fellow Indian organization, Asterisk. The move proved decisive as the lineup went on to dominate the group stage and playoffs.

Four months of competition

Launched in April, Legends Ascend South Asia 2025 brought together 95 teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives, and Bhutan. The competition began with three open qualifiers, before moving to a group stage and finally a double-elimination playoff.

The playoffs featured S8UL Esports, Kakao Gaming, Revenants, and Syndicate as the top four contenders. S8UL remained consistent through the bracket, ultimately defeating Kakao Gaming in the Grand Final to secure the title.

The tournament featured a total prize pool of INR ₹10,00,000 (approximately $11k USD). Across 29 broadcast days, it drew more than 130,000 YouTube views, with another 125,000 coming from watch parties hosted by streamers across South Asia.

“From the first qualifier to the final game, Legends Ascend showcased what South Asia’s League of Legends community is capable of,” said Mansoor “Nabu” Ahmed, CEO of Aftermath Ventures. “The passion from players, fans, and watch-parties has been incredible. Congratulations to S8UL Esports for setting an example for the next generation of players in the region.”

S8UL and their significance

Founded in 2019, S8UL Esports is one of India’s largest esports organizations, with competitive teams in multiple titles including VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, and Pokémon Unite. They are part of the Esports World Cup Club Program, joining an exclusive group of organizations supported to compete globally. While League of Legends remains a niche scene in India, S8UL’s entry marks one of the most high-profile investments in the region’s competitive ecosystem to date.

“Legends Ascend was about discovery, growth, and empowering the South Asian League esports landscape by providing them with a structured pathway to compete alongside global talents. Seeing S8UL lift the trophy after such a grueling journey is a testament to the depth of talent here, and we couldn’t be more excited for them as they head to the LCP Wild Card Playoffs.” said Arun Rajappa, Country Manager for Riot Games India & South Asia.

The LCP Wild Card pathway

The League of Legends Champions Pacific Wild Card Playoffs bring together five teams — one each from India, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. The event acts as a gateway tournament for developing and emerging regions. Its champion moves on to the LCP Promotion, where a spot in the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) will be on the line. Announced in September 2024, the LCP unites the VCS, PCS, LJL, OCE, and other domestic leagues across the Asia-Pacific, excluding China and Korea. LCP Wild Card Playoffs will run from August, 28th to 31st.