Pranav Birje | Senior Correspondent
The finale of the nationwide gaming talent hunt created an immersive experience of gaming fused with live entertainment and music
Mumbai, February 25, 2025: The second edition of College Rivals powered by Ampverse DMI delivered a high-voltage finale in Mumbai which witnessed Mohd Ayazuddin (Spark_XT) from Lucknow’s Christian Degree College clinch the BGMI title while Aditya Singh Rathore (Neko) from Amity University, Rajasthan took home the Valorant winner’s title as the tournament took place at NESCO on February 23, 2025, showcasing electrifying atmosphere where the fusion of gaming and music created a memorable immersive experience.
In the BGMI finale round, Mohd Ayazuddin (Spark_XT) won a prize money of ₹5,00,000, while Diptiranjan Rout (SRxRanjan) earned ₹3,50,000 as the first runner-up and Sandeep Gupta (Matguns) secured ₹1,25,000 as the second runner-up. The BGMI segment featured a best-of-three upper bracket match where Diptiranjan Rout defeated Mohd Ayazuddin 2-1, but after dropping to the lower bracket, Mohd Ayazuddin staged a comeback by winning 2-0 against Sandeep Gupta and securing the title and winner’s prize money.
In the Valorant segment, Aditya Singh Rathore (Neko) outclassed Rakshit Rao (Bhalu) in a thrilling 1v1 best-of-three final with a 2-0 victory to secure the first prize of ₹3,50,000, while Rakshit Rao received ₹1,50,000
The arena which was already electrified by a hard-fought contest that crowned a new champion in each category in season 2, witnessed riveting matches that not only celebrated the incredible talent that exists within India’s collegiate gaming community but also set the stage on fire for future esports legends in the making.
Charlie Baillie, CEO and Co-Founder, Ampverse Group said, “College Rivals Season 2 finale in Mumbai was more than just a showcase of top collegiate gaming talent—it was a glimpse into the future of entertainment for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. With a perfect blend of high-stakes gaming and esports, live music, cosplays, and exclusive meet-and-greets with top content creators, the event delivered an immersive experience beyond gaming. The overwhelming response this season reaffirms the growing influence of gaming culture among college students and highlights its potential to become a must-attend festival for young audiences seeking the ultimate fusion of gaming, music, and interactive entertainment. From its humble beginnings in Season 1 to its evolution into a cultural phenomenon, College Rivals is on track to redefine the gaming event landscape in India.”
The College Rivals Season 2 redefined the success of Season 1 with the Gaming Truck covering over 5000 kms, outshining its inaugural journey through unprecedented scale and engagement. The second witnessed nationwide qualifiers sparking fierce competition, drawing more than 2 lakh registrations from 55 colleges across 22 cities and engaging over 11 lakh students along the way.
The fans relished the opportunity to meet their favorite creators—including Payal Gaming, Ankkita, JokerKiHaveli, and Regaltos. Kicking off the show was a highly anticipated creator showdown where these top Esports personalities clashed in a friendly yet competitive battle, with Regaltos emerging as the ultimate victor.
Payal Gaming, a leading esports content creator, added, “Being part of College Rivals Season 2 was an absolute thrill. The competitive gaming was intense, the live music performances were electrifying, and meeting fans face-to-face was truly exciting. This event not only showcased the best of gaming talent but also brought a vibrant, dynamic energy that is setting new standards for live gaming events in India.”
Live performances by popular music acts like Seedhe Maut, Pho, and Dizlaw on the 91 RAP Spotify stage brought an electrifying fusion of music and gaming to College Rivals Season 2. The pulsating beats and high-energy performances seamlessly blended with the intensity of esports, transforming the event into a fully immersive entertainment spectacle. This perfect synergy of gaming and live music underscored College Rivals’ Season 2 by creating an unmissable festival of skill, sound, and spectacle.
The immersive fan experience with dedicated zones that blended gaming, music, and interactive challenges. The Spotify Fan Pit set the perfect vibe with curated playlists, while PlayStation Zones let attendees dive into top gaming titles. KREO’s Keyboard Typing Games tested speed and reflexes, and exciting sponsor activations from Nissin Cup Noodles and others kept the energy high, making every moment engaging and interactive.
The crowd was also entertained by a highly engaging cosplay contest with standout performances by Aditya Kalebere as Captain America, Sanskar as Jin Sakai from Ghost of Tsushima, and Dara as Sakanji from Demon Slayer, who emerged victorious.
Notably, one of the popular Esports athletes Charanjot Singh drove home the excitement by winning an TVS Apache bike as part of the Season 2 edition.
