S8UL Esports Secures Top Five Finish At ALGS 2026 Championship In Sapporo

S8UL Esports recorded India's best Apex Legends result to date, finishing fifth at the ALGS 2026 Championship in Sapporo, Japan. The event ran from January 15 to 18, with 40 teams and a USD 2 million prize

pool. The announcement was made in Mumbai on January 19, 2026.

Marking a historic milestone for South Asia, S8UL was the only South Asian team to place inside the top 10. The roster earned USD 120,000, about INR 1 crore, from the ALGS prize pool, the strongest global finish yet for an Indian esports organisation.

S8UL Esports, known for gaming content and teams, fielded an all Australian Apex Legends lineup. The players were Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), led by head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers). The total prize purse equalled about INR 18.14 crore.

Route through groups and Grand Finals

S8UL began in Group B during the round robin phase. The 40 teams divided into four groups of 10. Consistent results pushed S8UL into the top 20, placing them in the Winners Bracket and keeping realistic hopes of the ALGS 2026 Championship title alive.

In the Grand Finals, 20 teams played under the Match Point Format. Squads had to reach 50 points, then win a game to claim the title. Across nine final matches, S8UL scored 64 points, taking fifth place, one point behind fourth placed GROW Gaming.

Reactions from S8UL leadership

Coach Harrison Rogers noted the fine margins at this level. He said, "The margins at this level are extremely fine, and the team showed tremendous composure throughout the tournament. From the group stage through to the finals, the players displayed adaptability, trust, and resilience. "

He added, "Finishing in the top five globally is a major milestone, and it reinforces our confidence in this roster's ability to contend for championships in the future," highlighting faith in the current Apex Legends lineup.

Co-founder and CEO Animesh Agarwal linked the result to long term plans. He said, "Over the years, we have built one of India's strongest gaming creator ecosystems and a solid foundation in content. In the last 18 months, we have deliberately expanded our focus to global esports investments across multiple titles, and performances like this validate that vision. "

Agarwal continued, "Our ambition is to compete and win at the highest level worldwide. We are investing deeply, assembling world-class international rosters, and representing S8UL on the global stage from India. A top five finish at ALGS is a major milestone, and it marks only the beginning of what we believe will be a very strong future for S8UL in esports. "

Building global Apex Legends presence

The organisation's ALGS 2026 run follows an active 2025 season. S8UL played the ALGS Midseason Playoffs at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where it became the first Indian team chosen as a Club Partner. Consecutive global showings have strengthened S8UL's position as a leading Indian esports representative.