The College Rivals grand finale, being the biggest Esports talent hunt in India, ended spectacularly with 28 winning students from all over the country splitting a handsome prize pool of INR 50 lakh.
Held in conjunction with DMI Finance, the grand finale was a significant event for Ampverse, Asia’s leading platform for gaming communities and IPs, and also served as the launch of their initial intellectual property. With a total prize bounty of INR 50 lakh, the event drew more than 5,000 spectators who watched the contenders compete individually in six games: BGMI, FIFA 23, Road to Valor, Valorant, Tekken 7, and Counter Strike-2, employing a best-of-three format.
In this nationwide college Esports competition, eight finalists vied for a portion of the INR 10 lakh prize pool in the BGMI title. After a thrilling competition, Divyansh Vashisht from Delhi School of Professional Studies, Palampur, emerged victorious in the final match against Sahil Nagpal of APJ, with a 2-1 win, bagging the highest prize money of INR 4 lakh.
Runners-up Sahil pocketed INR 2 lakh, while Swayam Jain of IIPS and Deepak Mishra of DSNV received INR 1 lakh each for their third and fourth positions respectively. The rest of the finalists took home INR 50,000 apiece.
The finale also paved the way for one fortunate Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) player to secure a professional Esports contract with Rivals Pro Esports.
In reviewing the pivotal moment of College Rivals grand finale for the Indian Esports scene, Ampverse’s Country Head for India, Ashwin Haryani, stated, “We take immense pride in the path College Rivals embarked on and its transformative effect on Indian Esports. Our objective from the start has been to establish a sustainable network that genuinely nurtures and boosts the grassroots gaming community.
“The tremendous response we have received has spurred us to further grow this initiative and contribute towards the future of Indian Esports.”
Apart from BGMI, the College Rivals grand finale demonstrated tough competition in the other titles, each with a prize pool of INR 5 lakh. Every category champion received a significant INR 2.5 lakh, with the runner-up earning INR 1.5 lakh. Those ranking in third and fourth received INR 50,000 each.
In the FIFA 23 title, Karman Singh Tikka of Delhi Institute of Management, Gurugram, part of the India team at the Asian Games 2022, defeated Danish Khan of DGMC with a 2-0 sweep. Vayam Bhatt of MVSIT, New Delhi, also snatched victory in Tekken 7, overcoming Gurashish Singh of Jagannath University with a clear 2-0 win.
Arnav Manoj of SRM University, Mumbai, showcased exceptional talent, winning the Road to Valor title with a 2-0 scoreline. Vinit Mane of DY Patil Arts and Commerce College, Pune, reigned supreme in Valorant, taking home the victory with a 2-0 sweep. Meanwhile, Samyak Magare of Ajeenkya DY Patil University in Pune achieved a 2-1 win in Counter-Strike 2 after an intense showdown.
Beyond the Esports contests, attendees at the College Rivals finale were treated to a variety of activities, including live entertainment by comedian Samay Raina and four music artists: Seedhe Maut, Muhfaad, and Char Diwaari.
Gaming fans even had the exclusive chance to interact with celebrity Esports figures like Naman Mathur (Mortal), Payal Dhare (PayalGaming), Tanmay Singh (ScoutOP), and Yash Thakker (lolzzzgaming), who participated in a BGMI match.
Not only an Esports competition, the immersive event packed a wide range of experiences, from cosplay competitions and arcade gaming zones to racing simulators, VR cricket, and AI live generation art, complete with an array of foods and beverages, making it an unforgettable moment for all who attended.
The College Rivals journey that kicked off in August commenced with city qualifiers where teams participated in bracket-based matches arranged by city. Each city qualifier took place at the conclusion of a College Rivals Truck city tour, covering New Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. This initiative visited 25 colleges nationwide, gathering a whopping 92,000 participants across India.