PayalGaming becomes India’s first female gamer to win an international award

S8UL Esports, the Indian esports and gaming content organisation, won the ‘Mobile Organisation of the Year’ award at the prestigious MOBIES 2024 (Mobile Gaming Awards), held in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Adding to this monumental victory, Payal Dhare, popularly known as PayalGaming, etched her name in history as the first female gamer from India to win an international award, taking home the ‘Streamer of the Year’ title.

“Being the first female Indian streamer to win a global award is both an honor and a responsibility. It highlights the immense potential for women in gaming and content creation, and I hope it inspires others to follow their passion. A big thank you to S8UL’s Co-Founders, my family, and the community for their unwavering belief in me.” — Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming

Having received the ‘Global Impact on Mobile Gaming’ award at the inaugural MOBIES Awards in 2023, S8UL Esports bagged the ‘Mobile Organisation of the Year’ award in this edition, triumphing over Brazil’s renowned organisations LOUD and Fluxo, North America’s Tribe Gaming, Indonesia’s EVOS, and India’s GodLike Esports. The award is a testament to S8UL’s trailblazing efforts in consistently delivering impactful and entertaining content, driving the growth of mobile esports in India while influencing the broader gaming community on a global scale.

With 3.7 million followers on Instagram and over 4.2 million subscribers on YouTube, PayalGaming, has cemented her position as one of India’s most prominent female gamers and a role model in the gaming community. Her win at the MOBIES Awards 2024 as ‘Streamer of the Year’ is a testament to her influence and talent, as she triumphed over an impressive lineup of nominees, including her S8UL teammate Parv Singh (Regaltos), Brazil’s Nobru, Indonesia’s RRQ Lemon, and North America’s Wynnsanity.

Speaking on the momentous occasion of winning the ‘Streamer of the Year’ award, Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming expressed, “Being the first female Indian streamer to win a global award is both an honor and a responsibility. It highlights the immense potential for women in gaming and content creation, and I hope it inspires others to follow their passion. A big thank you to S8UL’s Co-Founders, my family, and the community for their unwavering belief in me.”

According to Lumikai’s ‘Levelling up: State of India Interactive Media & Gaming Research FY’24’ report, 44% of India’s gamers are women, up from 41% last year. PayalGaming’s historic win at the MOBIES Awards 2024 will inspire more women to embrace gaming, showcasing the growing opportunities and recognition for female gamers in India’s burgeoning gaming ecosystem.

Naman Mathur aka Mortal, widely known as the ‘Face of Indian Gaming,’ earned a nomination for ‘Mobile Content Creator of the Year’ for his pivotal contributions to mobile gaming. S8UL’s Gaming Festival 2023 was also nominated for ‘Live Event of the Year,’ standing out among global giants like the Esports World Cup and PMGC, for uniting over 13,000 Indian gaming enthusiasts with immersive experiences and world-class content.

The MOBIES Awards celebrate excellence in the mobile gaming industry, honouring the best talent, events, and organisations globally. Founded by the team behind the Esports Awards, MOBIES has quickly become a benchmark of achievement in mobile gaming, attracting millions of viewers and featuring a panel of esteemed industry leaders.