S8UL Esports, a leading player in the esports and gaming content space, has officially acquired the renowned North American Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) team, formerly known as BloodThirstyKings (BTK).
With this move, S8UL has become the first Indian organization to sign a top-tier international MLBB roster ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 and other major tournaments, a media release said.
The roster joining S8UL comprises:
- “MobaZane” Cosgun
- Ian “FwydChickn” Hohl
- Jang “Hoon” Seong-hun
- Ziameth-Jei “ZIA” Caluya
- Vo “Shark” Trung
- Carlos “Bestplayer1” Ortega Vega
BTK, founded in 2020, gained international recognition after placing third at the MLBB M3 World Championship by winning $80,000 (INR 68.4 lakh). Since then, they have remained a strong contender in North America with multiple regional titles and solid global performances.
The roster qualified for the MLBB Mid-Season Cup (MSC) at EWC 2025 after a dominant run in the NACT Spring Season, defeating Area 77 with a score of 4-2 in the Grand Finals.
With players experienced in multiple MLBB world championships, S8UL’s new roster adds proven skill and composure under pressure. This marks a major milestone for Indian esports, placing S8UL on the global stage in one of the world’s top mobile esports titles, the release added.
S8UL CEO & Founder Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, commented, ““We’re committing to MLBB in a big way — becoming a partnered organization and aligning closely with the S8UL vision, with the legendary Michael ‘MobaZane’ Cosgun leading the charge. As a mobile-first org, MLBB holds a special place for us — it’s the only mobile title among the eight games we’re part of. The game’s growth in India is promising, and we’re excited to contribute to its rise by working closely with key Indian stakeholders. This is just the beginning of what we aim to build with MLBB.”
The team’s highlights include a 4-3 win over Gaimin Gladiators in the NACT Spring Finals and a dramatic reverse sweep against Cloud9 in the NACT Fall 2024 Grand Finals. That comeback secured their M6 World Championship spot, where they finished in the top 10. With nearly $150,000 in prize winnings, they rank among North America’s most accomplished MLBB teams.
“We’ve been on a long journey together, from grassroots tournaments to the world stage, and every chapter has shaped who we are as a team. Joining S8UL feels like the beginning of something bigger than just competition. It’s about aligning with an organisation that understands not just the game, but the grind, the setbacks, and the stories that build champions. We’re not here just to play, we’re here to evolve, to represent, and to create a legacy that goes beyond titles and trophies. With S8UL behind us, we now have the platform to take that next big leap,” said team captain Michael Cosgun aka MobaZane.
According to Esports Charts, MLBB is the world’s most popular esports title in 2025, with a peak viewership of 2.7 million. The M6 World Championship in 2024 drew 4.13 million peak viewers and averaged 709,000 over 120 hours, ranking among the year’s biggest esports tournaments.
At EWC 2025, 16 of the world’s top MLBB teams will compete in double elimination group stages and best-of-5 knockout rounds, which will culminate in a best-of-7 grand final. With a $3,000,000 (approx. INR 25.6 crore) prize pool on the line, this year’s MSC is set to be one of the biggest mobile esports events in history.
S8UL’s MLBB roster combines experience and synergy across all roles. MobaZane leads as Jungler, joined by FwydChickn (EXP Lane), Hoon (Mid Lane), ZIA (Gold Lane), and Shark (Roamer). Bestplayer1 adds depth as a secondary Jungler, providing strategic flexibility.
With this announcement, S8UL has revealed rosters across seven different titles for EWC 2025. The lineups are as follows:
- Apex Legends: Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko) and Tom Canty (Legacy)
- Call of Duty: Warzone: Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda)
- Chess: Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram
- EAFC25: Jonas Wirth (Jonny) and Aaron Rivera (Happy)
- Mobile Legends Bang Bang: Michael Cosgun (MobaZane), Ian Hohl (FwydChickn), Jang Seong-hun (Hoon), Ziameth-Jei Caluya (ZIA), Vo Trung (Shark), and Carlos Ortega Vega (Bestplayer1)
- Starcraft II: Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho)
- Tekken 8: Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino)
