S8UL expands into Fatal Fury with the signing of experienced player Marcoantonio Malpica (Yurikov), completing its roster for eight different titles at the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.
New Player Addition Expands S8UL's Fighting Game Portfolio
S8UL Esports has announced the signing of Marcoantonio Malpica, known professionally as Yurikov, for Fatal Fury competition. This marks the organization's first entry into the Fatal Fury competitive scene. Furthermore, the signing completes S8UL's roster for the Esports World Cup 2025 in Riyadh.
The Peruvian-American competitor brings over a decade of experience to the team. Since starting his professional career in 2012, Yurikov has competed in various fighting games. Initially, he gained recognition in The King of Fighters and Guilty Gear Strive before transitioning to Fatal Fury.
Throughout his career, Yurikov has demonstrated consistency across multiple titles. He has played over 400 competitive matches and secured victories at several major tournaments. These include Summer Jam 2023, South Louisiana Major 2023, and Heat Wave 2022 - Northeast Championship 22.
Strategic Expansion for S8UL
This signing represents another step in S8UL's global expansion strategy. Previously, the organization has made high-profile signings across multiple esports titles. These include Apex Legends, Call of Duty Warzone, Chess, EAFC25, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Starcraft II, and Tekken 8.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL (known as 8Bit Thug), commented on the strategic importance of the signing. "Esports is evolving rapidly, and staying ahead means not just following trends, but setting them," he stated. Additionally, he emphasized the organization's commitment to backing talent that can perform across different eras.
Meanwhile, Yurikov expressed enthusiasm about joining the organization. "From solo queues to the big leagues. Joining S8UL is a whole new chapter," he said. The player highlighted his readiness to work with a team that shares his competitive vision.
Esports World Cup 2025 Participation
The Esports World Cup will take place from July 10-12 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Fatal Fury competition will feature 16 of the world's best players competing for a $1 million prize pool (approximately INR 8.5 crores). Consequently, this represents a significant opportunity for both Yurikov and S8UL.
With Yurikov's addition, S8UL has now completed rosters for all eight titles they will compete in at EWC 2025. The complete lineup includes players across various gaming genres, from traditional esports titles to mobile games and strategic competitions like chess.
Complete EWC 2025 Roster
S8UL's full roster spans multiple gaming disciplines. For Apex Legends, the team includes Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy). The Call of Duty: Warzone team features Colin Bowers-Wilson (Trikempathy), Braxton Trice (Braxtvn), and Ryder Skarzinski (Ryda).
In chess competition, S8UL will field Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram. The EAFC25 roster includes Jonas Wirth (Jonny) and Aaron Rivera (Happy). For Mobile Legends Bang Bang, the organization has assembled a six-player roster including Michael Cosgun (MobaZane) and several international players.
Finally, the Starcraft II team features Pyung Jae Koh (GuMiho), while Tekken 8 competition will include Arja Gamoori (Sephiblack) and Nino Schwarz (Nino). This diverse roster demonstrates S8UL's commitment to competing across multiple gaming genres at the highest level.
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