Indian esports team “We Back” watched their celebration turn into a nightmare this week. The squad had just secured their spot in the PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2025 when tournament officials busted two of their players for hacking.
“We Back” Caught Hacking, Banned From All PUBG Mobile Tournaments
“We Back” was riding high after finishing second in the 2025 PMNC Philippines tournament. The team, featuring players KALEROG, JATTLYF, MICKEY, and INSANE, had earned their ticket to the big leagues through the Southeast Asia qualifiers.
But that celebration didn’t last long.
Tournament officials caught MICKEY and INSANE using hacks during competition. The punishment? Brutal, but fair. They banned both players from all PUBG Mobile tournaments for three years (until August 2028). The cheating scandal also eliminated the entire “We Back” team from competition, crushing their PMGC 2025 dreams before they even started.
Repercussions on the Indian Esports Scene
This scandal hits especially hard because Indian esports is still recovering from the Forsaken cheating controversy. Back in 2018, Counter-Strike player Nikhil “Forsaken” Kumawat was caught using an aimbot cheat at the eXTREMESLAND 2018 Finals in Shanghai.
That scandal nearly killed the Indian CS:GO scene and damaged the reputation of Indian esports players internationally. Now, just as the scene was starting to rebuild credibility in the global esports scene, this PUBG Mobile cheating incident brings back all those painful memories.
However, on the flip side, we are still making waves in the global esports scene. Ved “Beelzeboy” Bamb won the Pokemon GO World Championships 2025, becoming the first Indian to claim an esports world title. The 21-year-old from India defeated Spain’s P4T0M4N in a thrilling 3-2 Grand Final in Anaheim, taking home $20,000 and making history for Indian esports.
S8UL Esports is representing India at the Esports World Cup (EWC), while Global Esports continues to fly the Indian flag in the Valorant Champions Tour franchise league.
These achievements show that despite the setbacks, Indian esports talent is capable of competing and winning at the highest level. It makes incidents like the “We Back” cheating scandal all the more frustrating, when Indian players prove they can win legitimately on the world stage, cheating scandals undermine everyone’s hard work.
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In Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), not only are battles fought with accurate shooting and instantaneous reflexes, but with a remarkable degree of tactical complexity. Every boom-around is a chess game, one characterized by the design and philosophy of every map. Whether you’re a casual fan, an aspiring player, or an esports enthusiast, understanding the subtle dance between defensive and offensive strategies can illuminate why some teams thrive while others falter.
In this article, we’ll walk through how CS2’s most iconic maps shape the battle, sometimes stacking the deck for defenders, sometimes for attackers, and occasionally offering a delicate equilibrium.
Fortress or Battleground? The Structure of CS2 Maps
All Counter-Strike players soon discover that not all maps are equal. Some are infamous for being pro-defensive Counter-Terrorists (CTs), giving them the power to secure locations and delay attacks. Others, more level or maze-like, appear to allow the Terrorists (Ts) to run amok with aggressive rushes and clever finishing. But why?
Defensive Strongholds: CT-Sided Maps
We begin with Overpass, commonly referred to as a “defensive playground.” Its complex of fast-rotation paths provides CTs with the advantage, allowing them to react rapidly to threats. On Overpass, the solitary defender in position can gather information and receive support across multiple sites. This results in a high CT win percentage, with current numbers indicating that CTs secure practically 56.4% of the rounds, a remarkable margin.
Nuke, another classic defensive map, establishes its lead with vertical depth. Several levels allow defenders to manage space and pick up valuable information, while narrow choke points funnel attackers through lethal crossfire areas. Even when attackers can get the bomb down, CTs tend to dominate retakes due to better sightlines and mobility. This is seen in the statistics, where CTs win around 55.2% of Nuke’s rounds.
Why are these aspects important? On both maps, the defense receives additional time and intel. High-speed rotation between locations, ideal crossfire spots, and strong sightlines enable CTs to play patiently. They can lay traps, anticipate mistakes, and utilize their utility (smokes, flashes, molotovs) to punish unprepared pushes.
Breaking the Fortress: T-Sided Maps
Before Terrorists lose hope, some CS2 maps tilt the other way. Anubis is the most T-sided map, as Ts win approximately 54.8% of rounds. Why does Anubis make it so uniquely advantageous for attackers?
The solution lies in accessing the Anubis map. Ts can attack both bomb sites from various angles, surprising defenders and making CT rotations slow and perilous. Once Ts have a hold of a site, CTs are presented with a labyrinth of angles and hiding areas, making each retake a nightmare. Even spawn positions favor the attackers, allowing quick site approaches that leave defenders behind.
Another map that Ts excel on is Inferno. On this map, the geometry initially benefits the CTs; narrow alleys and chokepoints, such as Banana and Apartments, have long been favorites among defender teams. But with time, with pros and top-tier players, attacking play has evolved. Coordinated utility barrages drive CTs from fortified areas and enable Ts to make well-timed site takes. Inferno’s meta evolution comes in the form of a story: it used to favor stationary defense, but now dynamic attacking with timing smokes and flashes makes Ts win more in the stats.
Maps for All Approaches
A great game requires moments when either side has its chance to shine, depending on the proper plan and execution. Ancient and Dust2 are two maps that have reached a near-perfect equilibrium.
Ancient is a challenge of tactical expertise; neither faction has a patent structural advantage. The win frequently hinges on “mid-control;” the faction that claims this central ground gains intel, rotation, and the ability to control the round. In such a close battle, strategy and teamplay are more important than sheer firepower.
Dust2, the most iconic map in Counter-Strike history, has retained its magic across generations due to the way it rewards both sides equally. Simple but subtle, the long sightlines and even mid control of Dust2 ensure that a team’s approach, aggressive rushes, or reserved holds, are more important than the arbitrary favor of spawn or layout. Here, survival by smart positioning and flexibility holds the key to success.
How Map Design Informs Strategy
What makes a map “defensive” or “offensive”? It’s not merely about spawn points or the number of doors and windows.
Defensive maps feature stable choke points, which are narrow points of entry that channel attackers into predetermined crossfire areas. These allow defenders to save resources and manpower, preparing deadly ambushes. Overpass and Nuke shine here.
On attack maps, several attack routes interrupt simple rotations and make it difficult for the defenders to cover all areas. If the Ts can make it past that initial wave of smokes and flashes, the round will typically be theirs.
The flexibility to rotate is the foundation of CT-sided maps. If CTs can rotate undetected or with little delay between bombsites, they may double-up defense where it is required, close gaps, or catch opponents off guard by retaking ground.
On T-sided maps, sluggish or clunky rotations create windows of opportunity for attackers. If defenders must bet which site to stack, a decent offensive in-game leader can take advantage with an instantaneous call.
Utility, Timing, and Personal Skill
Not only is today’s CS2 meta about who stacks angles better. It’s evolved into a fluid game of utility use, well-timed grenades that can shut off vision, drive players out of cover, or deny pushes altogether.
The addition of new smoke mechanics in CS2 has intensified this dynamic. Smokes that react to bullets and explosions imply there are more “micro-strategies” than ever. The greatest teams execute waves of utility, straining defender resources before the attack even occurs. What ensues is a more tactical, layered style of play.
Timing is everything. New teams have practiced utility executes to the second. Whether a person is looking into a site or “lurking” to avoid rotation cut-off, every action is precise to take advantage of the strengths and weaknesses of particular maps.
The meta also points out another reality. Occasionally, one player’s gutsy play will turn around a round. Strategy dictates, but mechanical proficiency and accurate aim make the game unpredictable and exciting.
The professional CS2 ecosystem is consistently evolving. On defense-oriented maps such as Nuke and Overpass, even top teams now incorporate aggressive early-round CT rampages to break up enemy defaults and read out their plan.
Attackers, aware of these developments, have also modified their own game, employing staggered utility, fakes, and split attacks to keep defenders uncertain. Coaches analyze map-specific statistics year in and year out, hoping to find the next tactical innovation. To fans, it translates to more highlight-reel plays and cinematic late-round swings.
The Numbers Behind the Meta
To get an idea of how one side or the other is favored by each map, let’s examine some recent win rate statistics from 2024–2025. The list below indicates how frequently Counter-Terrorists (CT) or Terrorists (T) win on a specific map, as well as a snapshot of what makes its meta special.
Map
CT Win %
T Win %
Sided Bias
Strength
Key Features
Overpass
56.4
43.6
CT
Very Strong
Fast rotations, angle coverage, easy defense angles
Nuke
55.2
44.8
CT
Strong
Multi-level, narrow passages, vertical control
Mirage
54.2
45.8
CT
Strong
Open bombsites, quick rotates, jungle/connector defense
Anubis
45.2
56.7
T
Very Strong
Multiple T attack routes, tough CT retakes, fast T access
Vertigo
47.8
52.2
T
Moderate
Vertical advantage, A ramp control, aggression rewarded
Inferno
48.8
51.6
T
Moderate
Tactical “Banana” control, late executes shift meta
Long sightlines, classic mid, open to varied playstyles
Final Thoughts
Knowing the subtleties behind each map’s meta is more than professional trivia; it’s literally the backbone of enjoyable and competitive games. For relaxed players, having a go-to map means playing to your own strength. Enjoy cautious site holds and waiting? Overpass or Nuke are the maps for you. Enjoy disorderly, multi-pronged assaults? Anubis or Vertigo is the way to go.
For squads looking to ascend the ranks or leave their mark in tournaments, having command over both sides of the coin, knowing when to hold, when to strike quickly, and when to rotate, distinguishes champions from challengers.
Counter-Strike 2’s biggest contribution to esports is how it makes static architecture live and breathe as a contest. Each new update, each advancement in utility mechanics or pro strategy, puts even the most veteran players at its mercy.
One thing is sure – so long as map makers continue to innovate, and creative teams continue to look for new strategies, the dynamic between defensive and offensive meta will never become stale. The actual winners are the players and the fans, who get to play and enjoy the increasingly profound strategic depth of one of the most legendary battlefields in gaming.
Falcons have taken down MOUZ and are in the semi-finals of the Esports World Cup 2025. With no shortage of criticism up until this point, the Falcons will be facing a rejuvenated Aurora side who are looking deadly coming into the tournament.
VETO
Falcons removed Overpass
MOUZ removed Dust2
Falcons picked Ancient
MOUZ picked Inferno
Falcons removed Mirage
MOUZ removed Train
Nuke was left over
Map 1: Ancient; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons
Falcons got on the board with a force buy conversion in the second round and managed to keep up with MOUZ, who have historically performed well on Ancient. MOUZ, having edged out a lead, Falcons levelled the scoreline before the end of the half. MOUZ started the second half with two solid rounds before the Falcons went on a tear to hit map point. Winning 6 rounds in a row, the Falcons outclassed MOUZ and closed the map, but not before losing one more round. Winning the map 13-9, the Falcons had their stars in m0NESY and kyousuke firing on all cylinders with the rest of the cast chiming in when needed.
Map 2: Inferno; Pick: MOUZ; Winner: MOUZ
Falcons dropped the ball right after winning the pistol on their defense as MOUZ put up a streak to go 5-1 up. The remainder of the half went by in both teams trading rounds before MOUZ concluded with a narrow lead of 7-5. Having gone into deficit, the Falcons failed to recover as MOUZ rushed their way to the map point. While Falcons did win a few rounds on their offense, they were few and far between, leading to MOUZ closing the map and taking us to Nuke. With a rating of 1.69, Torzsi stopped the Falcons from going 2-0 as match headed to the third map, having secured an impressive win.
Map 3: Nuke; Pick: Decider; Winner: Falcons
Coming off the back of a crushing defeat, the Falcons started strong with a streak of 7 rounds and managed one more before MOUZ salvaged their half, trailing 8-4. Moving to the offence, the Falcons opened the final half of the series with a pistol round win and dropped the ball right afterwards. While the Falcons did manage to win a few rounds, MOUZ kept pushing with little to nothing going for them. It took a miraculous m0NESY 1v2 clutch to put the Falcons on series point, and it seemed an easy task thereafter. MOUZ started mounting a comeback, pulling in 10 rounds before an eco A-site rush from Falcons sealed the deal for them.
MOUZ are failing to hit a consistent level at big events, and having fallen to Vitality many times in the last season, they have yet to win a big event this season. While they remain 3rd in the world, their inconsistencies might not keep them there for long.
As for the Falcons, they have had their fair share of criticism, and now they rejoice. With MOUZ out of the picture, Aurora remains a challenging hurdle on their way to the finals.
Counter-Strike has always been a game that is known for its simplicity. Unlike most other titles in the FPS genre, which are characterized by complex abilities, weapon mechanics, and tons of visual noise, CS has set itself apart through its purity and sticking true to its fundamentals. In the virtual battlefields of CS, you won’t find your enemies soaring in the skies or using supernatural abilities to change the playing field, but rather players relying solely on raw aim and game sense to outplay you.
Guns and utility are the only things that you get to work with to prove your worth in CS, while skill and strategy are the only real power-ups you get. Every duel, every rotation, and every smoke thrown carries weight, and a single failed counter-strafe is often enough to turn the tide of an entire round.
However, CS is a game with more than two decades of history, and with that longevity comes constant evolution. Over the past few years, and especially since the release of CS2, we have seen fundamentals like raw aim and mechanical skill taking a bit of a backseat as pro teams continue to come up with incredibly complex tactics to get the upper hand against their opponents.
This leads us to the question: are these complicated and fancy tactics adopted by pro teams in the big stages slowly taking away Counter-Strike’s soul?
What Made Counter-Strike Iconic
To understand what gave Counter-Strike its status as the greatest tactical FPS of all time, we have to go back to the early days of the franchise, all the way to CS 1.6.
To call CS 1.6 the godfather of modern esports wouldn’t be a statement far from the truth. Not only was the title a household name among gamers throughout the world, but it was also one of the first games to attain global recognition as an “esport” during the mid-2000s era. Apart from official events, CS 1.6 also saw thousands of unofficial tournaments being organized in gaming cafés across the globe.
CS 1.6 was never defined by elaborate tactics; it thrived on fundamentals instead. Sure, there were utilities like grenades, flashes, and smokes, but the concept of meticulously practiced lineups was rare. At its core, gunfights boiled down to raw mechanical skill and mastery of the basics. Coordination between teammates was still required, but you’d never witness five players standing with smokes out, rehearsing lineups before an execute, a sight that’s common in modern CS even outside the pro scene and high-ranked pubs.
This simplicity gave CS its charm and helped evolve the title into what it is today. From an outsider’s perspective, the game never felt intimidating, and the learning curve didn’t seem nearly as sharp as it does today.
The Modern Shift
The last decade has seen this fundamental and mechanics-heavy playstyle of Counter-Strike experiencing a significant shift. Over the past few years, and especially since the release of CS2, players have placed a much greater emphasis on tactics and utility usage over raw mechanical skill.
With the release of Counter-Strike 2 in September 2023, Valve added volumetric smokes to the shooter alongside improved overall grenade physics that enable players to see through smokes by placing a nade at the right spot. These are undoubtedly some of the best additions that the franchise has seen in a long time, but they have also raised the game’s skill ceiling dramatically.
Players have started creating nade lineups for common AWPing spots like the Mirage Window that are usually smoked off, and while they are a delight to watch from a spectator’s perspective, they can be equally as intimidating for newer players.
This isn’t to say that aim and mechanical mastery have become nonexistent due to the changes. In fact, CS2 is still one of the few titles that don’t shy away from rewarding precision and consistency. However, it’s a game that’s starting to demand a lot more than sharp aim; it needs preparation, proper utility placement, and an understanding of team roles, among other things.
The Argument for Fancy Tactics
A good chunk of the CS2 player base believes that these fancy tactics might be a positive step forward for CS, and it isn’t hard to see why. Not only do they add even more depth to the game and keep it constantly evolving, but they also reward creativity and enable players with weaker mechanical mastery to shine in other ways.
The elevation of the overall skill ceiling in CS2, driven by increasingly complex tactics and utility usage, can also be seen as a welcome shift for the game, as it challenges players to continually refine their skills and push the boundaries of mastery.
These changes also breathe new life into a game that has continued to thrive for over two decades. For many, these changes can be a sign that CS is still evolving to this day without losing its competitive essence.
The Counterpoint
With that being said, it’s also true that over-engineering CS can end up taking the soul away from the game. The “pick up and play” nature of CS, which helped the game’s earlier versions evolve into what it is today, is slowly transforming into a system where rehearsed executes and complex strategies reign supreme.
This can not only alienate casual players who aren’t willing to put hundreds of hours into learning a video game, but it can also act as a barrier that discourages new players from even stepping into the game.
The heart of CS has always been in the raw aim duels, the split-second decisions, and mastery over the fundamentals. When games start feeling like they’re won or lost in the strat book before the first shot is even fired, that essence risks fading away. Strategy is undoubtedly a crucial part of any tactical FPS, but it should complement mechanical skills instead of replacing them. The magic of CS has always been the perfect harmony of brains and bullets. If one begins to outweigh the other, it can slowly start scraping away the game’s soul.
Finding the Balance
Finding the right balance between fundamentals and tactics will be the key to keeping CS accessible for newcomers while also making the game rewarding for its dedicated player base. However, it can be an extremely slippery slope.
In a game like CS, the meta should reward mechanics first, and tactics second, not the other way around.
At the end of the day, what truly matters is maintaining a sense of fairness and clarity in every match. Players should feel that victory comes from decisions made in the moment, not from memorizing playbooks or out-prepping the enemy team. When the game remains intuitive yet deep, it can satisfy both ends of the spectrum.
Verdict
As mentioned earlier, Counter-Strike is easily the biggest tactical shooter title of all time in terms of player count, and the primary reason behind its dominance in the genre lies in its simplicity. Take someone who has never played an FPS before, sit them down in front of a CS2 event, and chances are they’ll understand the basics within a few rounds. The same can’t be said for most other games in the genre, many of which can feel overwhelming even to seasoned veterans, let alone complete newcomers
For the same reason, CS2, bringing in a new era of complicated tactics and ever-increasing layers of strategy, can do the game more harm than good in the long run. There’s little doubt that these changes bring freshness and depth to the game, but they also risk turning matches into exercises in memorization. Strategy and preparation should never overshadow the spontaneity of gunfights that have defined Counter-Strike for well over two decades.
If Valve can strike the right balance, it’s safe to say that CS2 will continue its dominance in the competitive FPS space for years, if not decades, to come. The game’s soul has never been in its utility, but in the duels and the tension of every round. That is the magic CS must never lose.
Day 5 of BGMS Season 4 League Week 1 delivered an absolute masterclass in individual brilliance and clutch performances, with Global Esports emerging as the unlikely heroes of the day. While Orangutan continues to dominate the overall standings, it was the jaw-dropping 1v3 and 1v4 clutches that had viewers on the edge of their seats throughout four intense matches.
BGMS Season 4 League Week 1 Day 4: Standings Update
The leaderboard saw significant movement after Day 5’s action, with Orangutan further cementing their position at the top with an impressive 169 points, a substantial 44-point jump that showcases their consistency across multiple matches. Team SouL maintained their second-place position with 140 points, while Gods Reign made a statement by climbing into third place with 120 points, displacing GodLike Esports from the top three.
Download the TalkEsport app for LIVE and comprehensive BGMS Season 4 points table.
BGMS Season 4 League Week 1 Day 4: Top Plays
Match 1 – Erangel: Troye’s 1v3
Global Esports’ Troye announced his presence in spectacular fashion during the opening match on Erangel. The action unfolded at the Farm compounds, where 4TRx had established their defensive position, seemingly in control of their surroundings.
Global Esports’ aggressive push immediately paid dividends as Troye stepped out of the vehicle and instantly knocked 4TRx’s Morty, setting the tone for what would become a chaotic firefight. What followed was pure individual brilliance as Troye systematically dismantled the remaining 4TRx members, taking down both PaiNisLive and INFGOD in a display of precision shooting that left spectators in awe.
Match 2 – Miramar: Spraygod’s 1v4
If Troye’s performance was impressive, Spraygod’s 1v4 clutch against Victores Sumus was nothing short of legendary. The match had devolved into a tense 2v4 situation that seemed heavily favored toward Victores Sumus.
The turning point came with Global Esports’ tactical grenade usage. A perfectly cooked explosive knocked down Thunder, but Victores Sumus quickly retaliated by eliminating Troye, leaving Spraygod in an impossible 1v4 situation against seasoned opponents.
What happened next will be replayed for years to come. Spraygod orchestrated a grenade masterclass, first eliminating MAFIA with a well-placed explosive. His next grenade was even more devastating, simultaneously taking down THUNDER while confirming the finishes of both SHAYAN and MAFIA – a triple elimination that defied belief.
With momentum firmly on his side, Spraygod completed the impossible by eliminating the final Victores Sumus player, Owais, securing one of the most spectacular clutch victories in recent BGMS history.
Match 3 – Sanhok: Mafia’s 1HP 1v3
The third match provided another heart-stopping clutch scenario, this time featuring Victores Sumus’ MAFIA in a dramatic drop clash against Los Hermanos at Bootcamp. The engagement began with rapid trades as THUNDER knocked Evil but was immediately eliminated by 5py.
MAFIA quickly stepped up, taking down 5py in retaliation, but Los Hermanos’ Shadow struck back by eliminating SHAYAAN, reducing the fight to a crucial 1v2 situation. In a display of composure under pressure, MAFIA systematically eliminated both Shadow and KALAAN in quick succession.
However, in a cruel twist of fate, MAFIA’s heroic efforts were ultimately undone by the blue zone, claiming his life just moments after completing what should have been a legendary clutch victory.
Match 4 – Erangel: Legit’s 1v3
Team SouL’s Legit provided the perfect conclusion to an action-packed day with his methodical 1v3 dismantling of TWOB. The engagement began with Legit taking down both Pukar and AviOG, creating the opening his team needed to execute their compound rush.
Legit continued his dominant performance by eliminating Phantom, though TWOB showed resilience as AviOG managed to get a revive. However, Goblin quickly knocked AviOG again, and Legit capped off his stellar individual performance by finishing the final player, Macc, securing a convincing victory for Team SouL.
The fourth day of BGMS Season 4 League Week 1 delivered another thrilling showcase of tactical gameplay and individual heroics, with teams battling across three intense matches. As the dust settled, familiar faces continued to dominate the leaderboard while emerging talents made their mark with spectacular clutch performances.
BGMS Season 4 League Week 1 Day 4: Standings Update
Orangutan continues to set the pace in the early stages of Season 4, maintaining their position at the summit with an impressive 125 points. However, the competition remains fierce, with Team SouL hot on their heels at 115 points and GodLike Esports rounding out the top three with 110 points. The tight margins at the top suggest we’re in for an incredibly competitive season ahead.
Download the TalkEsport app for LIVE and comprehensive BGMS Season 4 points table.
BGMS Season 4 League Week 1 Day 4: Top Plays
Match 1: Erangel — NoNx’s Bounty Hunt
The opening match on Erangel showcased tactical awareness at its finest when NoNx identified an opportunity to capitalize on FS Esports’ third-position bounty.
The sequence began during a zone rotation when NoNx’s Kalyug spotted and eliminated FS Esports’ Roman, immediately putting the bounty target on high alert. Recognizing the potential for extra points, NoNx committed to the chase. Kaanha stepped up next, taking down Levi to further pressure FS Esports.
FS Esports fought back valiantly, with Godx4 managing to eliminate Kalyug in retaliation, but NoNx’s depth showed as Viper quickly traded the kill. The back-and-forth continued as Lavish from FS Esports managed to finish Anonymous, but ultimately, Kaanha delivered the decisive blow by eliminating Lavish, securing the full team wipe and those crucial 10 bounty points for NoNx.
Match 2: Miramar — Aimbot’s 1v4 Stand
Medal Esports’ Aimbot provided the day’s most spectacular individual performance with a breathtaking 1v4 clutch against TWOB in San Martin. The situation looked dire after a drop clash that saw Scout eliminated early, leaving Aimbot seemingly isolated against overwhelming odds.
Positioned defensively in a building, Aimbot faced the simultaneous rush of Vishu777, AviOG, and Pukar. In a moment of pure brilliance, he perfectly timed and cooked a grenade that eliminated all three opponents in one explosive play – the kind of moment that defines legends in competitive PUBG Mobile.
The clutch wasn’t over yet. Aimbot, alongside teammates Venom and Termi, pushed for the final elimination against TWOB’s Mac. Despite losing Termi and Venom in the final engagement, Aimbot completed the impossible 1v4, showcasing the composure and skill that separates elite players from the rest.
Match 3: Sanhok — ClutchGod Lives Up to His Name
The final match on Sanhok delivered another stunning individual performance, this time courtesy of ClutchGod’s remarkable 1v3 against GodLike Esports in Bootcamp. The three-way drop clash between RevenantXSpark, MadKings, and GodLike Esports created the perfect storm for heroics.
After MadKings eliminated RevenantXSpark, GodLike Esports seized what appeared to be a commanding position. Apollo knocked admino, and JONATHAN eliminated and finished Shadow, seemingly putting his team in control. However, ClutchGod had other plans.
In a display of ice-cold nerves, ClutchGod immediately traded JONATHAN’s elimination, then systematically dismantled the remaining GodLike players. Taking down both Punkk and SIMP in quick succession, ClutchGod completed yet another impossible clutch scenario, proving that individual brilliance can overcome even the most challenging odds.
With Orangutan maintaining their lead but the margins remaining tight, every match continues to carry significant weight in the overall standings. As we move deeper into the season, expect teams to refine their strategies and individual players to push the boundaries of what’s possible in competitive play.
Falcons have eliminated G2 Esports from the Esports World Cup and secured their spot in the quarter-finals. The roster overhaul that everyone questioned in Cologne is now reaching the peak of their powers with their home crowd present.
VETO
G2 removed Nuke
Falcons removed Overpass
G2 picked Ancient
Falcons picked Train
G2 removed Mirage
Falcons removed Inferno
Dust2 was left over
Map 1: Ancient; Pick: G2; Winner: Falcons
Going 3-0 up, the Falcons started strong, dominating G2 right from the get-go. While G2 did manage to recover, Falcons remained largely ahead as the first half closed with Falcons leading by 2 rounds. Switching sides, G2 did manage to level the scoreline, but Falcons did not let the game slip out of their hands. Falcons went back to their winning ways with the first gun round, and their fortress of a CT side proved to be too strong for G2, leading to Falcons taking away G2’s map pick. G2’s nightmare on the map came in the familiar face of NiKo, who dropped 23 kills and 1.59 IR, leading to Falcons winning the map 13-9.
Map 2: Train; Pick: Falcons; Winner: Falcons
Bouncing back, G2 went 6-0 up to start their CT side on Train, which Falcons replicated by dropping a 6-0 streak of their own to close the half with a levelled scoreline. While G2 looked to be threatening the Falcons in the first half, the Falcons completely dominated G2 for the entirety of the second half. Having lost a single round, the Falcons went on a tear to secure the map and take the Falcons in the next round of play. TeSeS, playing in a supporting role, dropped 18 kills and a Train masterclass to secure the map for Falcons.
Both teams, coming off the back of a poor showing in Cologne, were hell bent on dropping something convincing here, while signs of improvement were evident for the Falcons, the same can’t be said for G2. Having lost a lot of firepower, the roster will take some time, and it would be unfair to judge it with a small sample size.
Shares of Nazara Technologies Ltd continued their sharp decline for a second straight day on August 21, 2025, slipping 11.19% to touch a low of ₹1,085 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). This dramatic drop follows a nearly 13% fall the previous day, bringing the two-day loss to about 23% and marking Nazara’s worst performance since May 2024.
The sell-off was triggered by the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, which threatens to ban all pay-to-play online games, including those of skill and chance, across India. Analysts warn this could make the real-money gaming (RMG) sector “infeasible,” with severe repercussions for gaming-linked companies, including Nazara Technologies.
Nazara, India’s only listed gaming and sports media company, moved quickly to clarify its position. The company stated it has no direct exposure to RMG, with contributions from this sector to its revenue and EBITDA reported as nil. However, Nazara does hold a 46.07% stake in Moonshine Technologies, parent to PokerBaazi, a leading RMG platform. Revenues from Moonshine are not consolidated in Nazara’s financials, as the company lacks majority control. Still, analysts and investors remain concerned about potential risks to Nazara’s indirect interests in the RMG segment.
ICICI Securities downgraded Nazara’s rating to “reduce” from “add,” slashing its price target from ₹1,500 to ₹1,100. Brokerage houses have also reduced Moonshine Technologies’ valuation to zero in light of regulatory threats. The recent crash has erased over half of Nazara’s year-to-date gains, a stark reversal from previous bullish sentiment.
Other gaming stocks such as Delta Corp and OnMobile Global suffered declines following news of the proposed ban. Delta Corp closed with minor gains, but the overall sentiment remains negative in the gaming sector.
Despite the turmoil, Nazara’s board recently approved changes to its share capital structure, including a stock split and a 1:1 bonus issue, which will be implemented pending shareholder approval. Technically, the stock now finds support near ₹989–₹1,080, with resistance in the ₹1,184–₹1,200 range. Analysts urge caution and recommend new entries only above ₹1,184, citing weak sentiment and oversold conditions.
Nazara maintains its core business is robust, focused on publishing, early learning, gaming arcades, and eSports—segments unaffected by the online gaming bill. However, until regulatory clarity emerges, the stock is likely to remain volatile and under pressure.
In summary, Nazara Technologies faces challenging times as regulatory headwinds upend investor sentiment and threaten future growth in India’s online gaming industry.
According to sources familiar with Krafton’s esports roadmap, India may soon be handed a direct path to the world stage. The upcoming BGMI tournament scheduled for later this year is expected to grant the winning team a direct qualification slot for the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) 2025, marking one of the most significant developments in the country’s competitive gaming history.
A Direct Gateway to the World Championship
Insiders suggest that Krafton is preparing to tie one of its late-2025 BGMI tournaments to PMGC, the global pinnacle of PUBG Mobile esports. If confirmed, this would mean the champion of the yet-to-be-announced event would bypass regional qualifiers entirely and secure an automatic berth at PMGC 2025. For Indian teams, who have often struggled for consistent representation at international events, this could become a historic opportunity.
Krafton’s Pivot After Franchise League Setback
This move also comes after the quiet shelving of Krafton’s BGMI Franchise League, a highly anticipated project designed to replicate the IPL model with long-term slots for esports organizations. With franchise interest falling short of expectations, the league has been postponed indefinitely. Instead, Krafton appears to be focusing on shorter, high-impact tournaments that can both satisfy fans and provide Indian teams with international exposure.
The Likely Candidate: BGMI Showdown 2025
While Krafton has yet to reveal names, one of the tournaments slated for later this year is expected to be the BGMI Showdown, a short-format invitational that previously ran in 2022. That edition was known for its ₹15 lakh prize pool and, importantly, for serving as a qualifier to an international PUBG Mobile event. Industry chatter indicates the same blueprint could return this year — but on a much grander scale, with the PMGC slot on the line.
Stakes Higher Than Ever
If the leak proves true, this would represent a turning point for India’s esports ecosystem. A direct PMGC berth ensures global visibility and prestige, giving top Indian rosters the chance to test themselves against the best teams in the world. It also signals Krafton’s intent to keep India firmly embedded in the global PUBG Mobile circuit, despite ongoing challenges with local league structures.
While internationally the event remains the PUBG Mobile Global Championship, Reportedly, Krafton has opted to avoid using the PUBG Mobile branding inside India. Due to regulatory sensitivities around PUBG Mobile’s ban in the country, Krafton will likely promote it domestically as the BGMI Global Championship or simply the Global Championship, while maintaining its link to PMGC 2025. This branding strategy allows Krafton to stay compliant while still ensuring India’s winners take their rightful spot on the world stage.
Waiting for the Official Reveal
Krafton has yet to make any official statement, but an announcement is expected in the coming weeks, likely after the BGMI Masters Series concludes in September. Until then, speculation continues to swirl, and Indian fans are left wondering which team will seize the chance to carry the nation’s flag to PMGC 2025.
According to sources close to TalkEsport with direct knowledge of Krafton’s plans, have revealed that the publisher is preparing to host two major BGMI tournaments in the second half of 2025. The exact venues and dates are being kept under wraps for now, but an official announcement is expected shortly, with insiders confirming that the roadmap is already finalized.
Krafton Set to Announce Two Major BGMI Tournaments in Late 2025
According to people familiar with the matter, Krafton is doubling down on India’s BGMI esports scene with two large-scale tournaments scheduled to take place after September. One of them is expected to be the revival of the BGMI Showdown, a short-format invitational that last appeared in 2022 and is remembered for its high stakes and international tie-ins. The second event has not yet been identified, but sources indicate it will follow soon after the ongoing Masters Series concludes.
Franchise League Plans Shelved After Lack of Buyer Interest
This fresh push comes in the wake of Krafton’s decision to postpone its highly publicized BGMI Franchise League. Modeled after the IPL, the league was designed to bring stability to Indian esports with long-term slots for organizations, big sponsors, and large venues. However, the response to franchise slots reportedly fell short of expectations, forcing Krafton to shelve the plan for now. The company has not abandoned the concept altogether and continues to see it as part of BGMI’s future, but the immediate focus has shifted to standalone tournaments that can sustain momentum without the franchise model.
BGMI Showdown Expected to Return With Revamped Format
The Showdown has always been a unique event in BGMI history. Its 2022 edition packed twenty-four invited teams into a four-day sprint with a prize pool of ₹15 lakh, and it served as a qualifier for an international championship. Krafton is believed to be bringing the format back in a bigger, reimagined avatar, aiming to capture both fan nostalgia and renewed competitive excitement.
Second Unnamed Tournament to Follow Masters Series
While details remain scarce, the second tournament is expected to hit the calendar later this year, providing teams and fans with back-to-back opportunities once the Masters Series wraps up on September 14 in Delhi. Together, these two events will ensure that the second half of 2025 remains as active as the first, despite the void left by the cancelled league.
A Packed 2025 Calendar Despite Setbacks
This year has already been a busy one for Krafton’s esports operations. The BGMI India Series opened the season in January and held its Grand Finals in April, followed by the Pro Series in early summer. The Masters Series, which is underway now, has further solidified BGMI’s presence on India’s esports calendar. Adding two more major tournaments in the closing months of the year is a clear signal that Krafton intends to finish strong.
Krafton’s Pivot Signals Commitment to Indian Esports
The shelving of the franchise league could have derailed the momentum of BGMI esports, but Krafton’s swift pivot demonstrates adaptability and intent. By focusing on accessible tournament formats instead of waiting for a franchise ecosystem to mature, Krafton is keeping players engaged, teams motivated, and fans entertained. With official announcements expected in the coming weeks, India’s BGMI community is bracing for what could still become the most competitive and dramatic season yet.
