S8UL Valorant Team Pauses Operations After Predator League 2026

Indian esports fans have been shocked as S8UL Esports, one of the country’s top Valorant teams, has announced a pause in its competitive operations.

The decision comes just days after the team failed to qualify for the playoffs of the Acer Predator League 2026, which was held in Delhi. This has caused concerns about the state of the Indian Valorant scene. The news comes days after Indian gaming giant Velocity decided to take a hiatus from the Valorant's competitive scene.

Co-Founder Confirms S8UL Valorant Exit

The Co-Founder of S8UL, Animesh Thug Agarwal (@8bit_thug), posted about the Valorant operations on his Instagram Broadcast Channel, stating S8UL Valorant exit:

“Our Valo Run comes to an end/pause for Now! Let's wait for the domestic ecosystem to be more sustainable before we go in again.”

This confirms earlier speculation about a potential S8UL Valorant exit following underwhelming results at major events. As confirmed by the Co-Founder of S8UL, it would be possible for the team to return to Valorant only when there are improvements in the overall level of competition within India. This also highlights that for professional competitive teams to operate successfully, the game must have a much more sustainable and stable environment surrounding it.

The overall decisions of major Indian esports organisations represent very real challenges to all professional esports teams. Many have voiced the need to develop and maintain an adequate level of support for tournaments and long-term growth in the Indian esports ecosystem.

Recent Performance Track Record Cited as a Key Reason Behind S8UL eSports Valorant Exit

Thug might have given the reason behind S8UL's hiatus from competitive Valorant scenario, but the real reason might be something different. Despite being a huge name in the Indian Esports arena, S8UL has struggled against top-tier Valorant teams like Velocity Gaming and E-KING.

It had impressive victories against mid-tier teams like DOT EXE and Revenant XSpark. A team consisting of Venka, Hoax, hellff, Techno, k1ngkappa, and vibhoRR, however, had fans rooting for wider dominance across regional events.

The decision behind S8UL eSports Valorant exit was likely influenced by S8UL's failure to qualify for the playoffs at the Predator League 2026 after crucial group stage game defeats. The team was ranked #13 in Asia-Pacific with a regional rating of 1661, indicating competitive strength but inconsistent performance in high-stakes competitions.

The pause is now viewed by fans and analysts as a calculated move that will allow S8UL to reevaluate its roster and wait for a more robust and long-lasting domestic Valorant ecosystem before returning.

If you liked this coverage, consider checking out our recent guide on Valorant Premier mode economy.