iQOOSouL Wins BGMS Season 3 Finale, Tops Entity By Two Points
iQOOSouL wins the BGMS Season 3 title with a close victory over Entity, Team Tamilas comes third, event demonstrates the thriving esports sector in India
iQOOSouL won the heated finale of the Android Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS) Season 3, which took place from 9-11 August at the Android Arena in Chhatarpur, New Delhi. The squad, coached by Mohammad Raja, won the championship title by a tiny margin and received the top prize of Rs 55 lakhs.
The BGMS Season 3, organised by NODWIN Gaming, brought together India's top esports teams for three days of intense battle. The contest, which comprised 16 teams, displayed the best of BGMI skill and ended in a nail-biting finish. iQOOSouL, one of India's most notable esports teams, delivered an outstanding performance across 12 matches, winning the championship by a just two points over runners-up Entity.
Under the direction of in-game leader (IGL) Mohammad Raja, popularly known as Manya, iQOOSouL started the finals strong, finishing sixth on the leader board with 34 points on Day 1. The team's surge continued on Day 2, as they moved up to second place with an additional 49 points. On the last day, iQOOSouL recorded three Winner Winner Chicken Dinners (WWCD) and earned 40 points, raising their total to 123 points and just beating Entity, who finished with 121 points. Team Tamilas rounded out the top three with 113 points.
In his post-victory statement, Mohammad Raja praised his team's hard work and dedication. "Winning the Android BGMS Season 3 title goes beyond words. I'm extremely pleased of my team for their unrelenting dedication, many hours of practice, and strategic preparation that have propelled us to this point," Raja added. He also emphasised the importance of the triumph for the team's fans, stating that this is only the beginning for iQOOSouL.
Entity won Rs 15 lakhs for finishing second in the event, which had a total prize fund of Rs 1 crore. Team Tamilas won Rs 7.5 lakhs for finishing third. Ankit Shukla, commonly known as AKOP from Team Orangutan, was named the TVS Raider Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the competition, as well as the Most Wicked Player title, earning him Rs 1 lakh. Harshit Yadav, commonly known as Beast from Global Esports, received the Audience Favourite Raider award for his great performances.
NODWIN Gaming Co-Founder and CEO Gautam Virk complimented iQOOSouL and praised the gamers for their performance. "Android BGMS Season 3 has been a spectacle for viewers and a testament to the incredible growth and potential of esports in India," Virk told the media. He also acknowledged the work of partners in elevating the event and highlighted the addition of new features such as Powerplay, Impact Player and Bounty, which gave a new depth to the competition.
For the third year in a row, Star Sports televised the competition, bringing esports into the mainstream and reaching millions of fans across the country. The final day of the event saw a peak concurrent audience of over 350,000 on YouTube, with more than 3.8 million views across Hindi and English streams. The competition drew approximately 4.75 million spectators, with an average of more than 1.8 million.
To improve the fan experience, NODWIN Gaming presented the Android BGMS Carnival on the tournament's final day, which included brand experience zones, a live performance by hip-hop singer Chaar Diwaari and a finals viewing party. The event emphasised the increasing popularity and cultural significance of esports in India.
This year's BGMS saw the debut of new businesses in the Indian esports industry, including Android and Garnier Men, as well as established partners Crunchyroll, Red Bull, TVS Raider and Phillips Oneblade, also contributed to the tournament. The continuing presence of BGMS on Star Sports, as well as its expanding audience, highlight the rapid growth of esports in India and its emerging importance in young entertainment.
