S8UL secures triple Trackmania berth at Esports World Cup 2026 qualifiers

MUMBAI: Three drivers, three qualifiers and one clear message: S8UL is accelerating hard towards the Esports World Cup 2026.

S8UL Esports has secured representation in its fifth title at the Esports World Cup 2026 after all three of its Trackmania athletes successfully advanced through their respective regional open qualifiers.

Representing the organisation at Trackmania’s EWC debut will be the United Kingdom’s Alexander Page, better known as Whizzy, the United States’ Neal Kamdar, known as Neal, and India’s Kunal Upreti, known as Spark. Upreti will be the only Indian competitor in the 32-player Trackmania field.

The competition, built around the high-speed racing title Trackmania, will take place from August 19 to 22 and feature a prize pool of USD 500,000, or more than Rs 4.7 crore.

In Europe, Alexander Page secured qualification from a highly competitive field of 41 players battling for six available spots. The 24-year-old, who has previously claimed the British and Irish Professional Cup 3 title and recorded a top-six finish at the Trackmania World Tour 2023 World Championship, produced a consistent qualifying run to finish third overall.

Speaking after qualification, S8UL Esports Trackmania player Alexander Page said, “The European qualifier was incredibly competitive, so securing a spot at the Esports World Cup feels rewarding. I have always enjoyed testing myself against the strongest players, and this is another opportunity to do exactly that.”

In North America, Neal Kamdar dominated the qualifier from start to finish. Competing in a field of 10 players for three available places, the accomplished racer topped the standings after a series of first-place finishes. Since entering the competitive scene in 2021, Kamdar has built an impressive record with victories across multiple Trackmania events in the region.

Reflecting on the result, S8UL Esports Trackmania player Neal Kamdar said, “My focus going into the qualifier was simple: play my game and secure the spot. I am pleased with how everything came together, but qualifying is only the first step.”

For Indian fans, the spotlight falls on Kunal Upreti. Widely regarded as one of India’s leading Trackmania competitors, the 22-year-old secured qualification through the Asia and Oceania regional event, where 14 players competed for four EWC berths. A multiple-time Trackmania India Cup champion, Upreti finished second overall to earn his place at the global event.

Commenting on the achievement, S8UL Esports Trackmania player Kunal Upreti said, “Being the only Indian player to qualify for Trackmania at this year’s Esports World Cup makes this achievement even more meaningful. I am proud to represent both India and S8UL on such a big stage.”

The qualification adds to a growing list of successes for S8UL as it pursues spots across 13 titles at EWC 2026. Earlier, the organisation’s Indian Honor of Kings roster qualified for the tournament, while Indian grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram also secured places in the chess competition. S8UL has additionally qualified in Apex Legends and Fortnite through its international line-ups.

Backed for a second consecutive year by the Esports Foundation Club Partner Program, S8UL is balancing international talent with a growing emphasis on Indian representation.

The Esports World Cup 2026 will run from July 6 to August 23 and is expected to bring together more than 2,000 players representing 200 clubs from over 100 countries, competing for a record-breaking prize pool of USD 75 million, approximately Rs 714 crore.