Indian esports organisation Team SOUL has announced a partnership with Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer iQOO.
The deal will see the manufacturer become the title sponsor of the organisation, renaming Team SOUL to iQOO SOUL.
According to a release, Team SOUL‘s deal with iQOO is the first time an Indian esports organisation has secured a title sponsorship, outside of tournaments that take place in the country. In addition, the release also states the partnership between the organisation and the manufacturer will last six months.
As part of the deal, the iQOO logo will appear on the organisation’s jersey for the duration of the deal. The newly-renamed SOUL iQOO will make its competitive debut in the finals of the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series taking place from December 15th-17th at the Eka Arena Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
iQOO is no stranger to the esports industry. The manufacturer has partnered with game publisher KRAFTON to organise Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) tournaments in the region. In addition, it was the official gaming phone partner of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou which took place throughout September and October 2023.
Founded in December 2018, Team SOUL is the PUBG Mobile branch of Indian esports organisation S8UL. In July 2023, S8UL hosted a two-day gaming and esports festival in Banaglore, India.
Animesh Agarwal, co-founder of S8UL, spoke on the deal: “We are thrilled to welcome iQOO as the title sponsor of Team SOUL. This partnership marks a historic moment in Indian Esports and is built on a shared vision of elevating the Esports sector of the country.
“Through this collaboration, iQOO SOUL has reinforced its position as a powerhouse in the sector, setting a new benchmark for the industry.”
