In the West, esports fans argue about Team Liquid vs Cloud9. In India, there is only one debate that matters: the godlike vs s8ul esports rivalry.
What started as a friendly competition between two highly successful PUBG Mobile rosters has evolved into a massive, multi-million dollar corporate war over the last five years. With both organizations boasting millions of die-hard fans, the tension between the two camps is thicker than ever in 2026. Here is a complete breakdown of how the rivalry started, the massive poaching controversies, and who is currently sitting on the throne.
- Table of Contents:
- The Origins of the Feud
- The Poaching Controversies
- 💡 Expert Comments: The Business Side
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1. The Origins of the Feud
The rivalry officially traces its roots back to the competitive dominance of Team Soul (now S8UL) during the PMCO 2019 era. As Mortal and his team became national heroes, Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude was quietly building GodLike Esports into an absolute powerhouse.
The feud became highly visible when BGMI returned to India. GodLike acquired the legendary ex-TSM Entity roster (Jonathan, Neyoo, ZGOD, and ClutchGod), creating a “super team” that immediately began dominating S8UL in tier-1 tournaments. The fanbases clashed instantly. S8UL fans argued they had the legacy and the content, while GodLike fans argued they had the superior firepower and trophies.
2. The Poaching Controversies
The rivalry reached its absolute boiling point during the “Poaching Era.” When tier-1 players began realizing their immense market value, both organizations were accused of tampering. The biggest flashpoint occurred when star players and managers began abruptly leaving one organization to join the other. Live streams turned into press conferences, with owners from both S8UL (Thug, Goldy) and GodLike (Kronten) firing subtle (and sometimes explicit) shots at each other regarding contract buyouts and loyalty.
When GodLike and S8UL drop into the same POI (Point of Interest) on the Erangel map today, the live stream viewership routinely spikes by over 100,000 concurrent viewers.
🛡️ EXPERT COMMENTS: THE BUSINESS SIDE
Who is actually winning the rivalry?
From a purely financial and business perspective, both organizations are winning massively. In the esports industry, a compelling storyline is just as valuable as a championship trophy. The “El Clasico” matches between GodLike and S8UL generate more sponsor impressions and merchandise sales than any other event in Indian gaming. Behind closed doors, the owners of both organizations understand that this fierce rivalry is the primary engine dri
