New Delhi: Crazy Kratos, led by Rohit “Kratos” Saxena, emerged as the inaugural champions of the KRAFTON India Rising Star Invitational 2026, India’s first Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) invitational tournament exclusively featuring players from the KRAFTON India Esports Rising Stars Programme.
The three-day tournament, held from July 3 to 5, featured 16 Rising Stars, each captaining a five-member team, with a total prize pool of ₹5 lakh. A total of 18 matches were played, and all games were live-streamed on the KRAFTON India Esports YouTube channel.
Crazy Kratos delivered a dominant performance throughout the competition, finishing with 193 points and three Winner Winner Chicken Dinners (WWCDs) to secure the championship. Justice Jesters claimed the runners-up spot with 166 points, while Most Wanted finished third with 146 points and two WWCDs.
Adding to the team’s success, captain Rohit “Kratos” Saxena was named both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Best Rising Star for his consistent leadership and outstanding in-game performances across the tournament.
The competition remained fiercely contested from the outset. Jatin Hunters topped the standings with 74 points after the opening six matches. However, by the end of Day Two, after 12 matches, Crazy Kratos had surged to the top with 137 points and successfully maintained their lead through the final day to become the tournament’s first-ever champions.
The Rising Star Invitational serves as the flagship event of the KRAFTON India Esports Rising Stars Programme, an initiative aimed at identifying, nurturing, and promoting emerging BGMI talent from the grassroots level. In 2026, the programme was expanded with the introduction of Elite Rising Stars and Backup Rising Stars categories, offering structured coaching, mentorship from experienced professionals, competitive exposure, and opportunities to perform on the national stage.
Congratulating the winners, Karan Pathak, Associate Director (Esports), KRAFTON India, said, “The Rising Star Invitational truly reflects the vision of the Rising Stars Programme. It provides emerging players with a national platform to compete, showcase leadership, and prove their abilities. The standard of competition over the last three days has been exceptional, and it has been exciting to witness so many young players display their talent. Congratulations to Crazy Kratos and every participating team for making the inaugural edition a memorable success.”
Expressing his delight after lifting the trophy, Rohit “Kratos” Saxena, captain of Crazy Kratos and winner of the MVP and Best Rising Star awards, said, “Winning the first Rising Star Invitational is a proud moment for our entire team. Every match was highly competitive, and receiving both the championship trophy and the individual awards makes this victory even more special. The Rising Stars Programme has provided players like us with an incredible platform to learn, compete, and showcase our potential. We are grateful to KRAFTON India for creating opportunities that help aspiring gamers progress towards becoming professional esports athletes.”
The inaugural edition featured participants from the 2025 and 2026 Rising Stars Programme, with each captain drafting a squad comprising experienced professional players and promising emerging talent. The tournament’s successful debut reinforced KRAFTON India’s commitment to building a strong and sustainable esports ecosystem in the country by creating a clear pathway for aspiring players to transition from grassroots competition to the professional stage.
