HyunBin was MVP when DRX won BMIC in Delhi, and now he plays for the team most likely to stop them in Mumbai
Sixteen teams from India, South Korea and Japan meet at the BGMI International Cup from 30 October, and the defending champions have lost most of their title-winning side.
Oct 23, 2026
A year ago HyunBin was the best player in the hall when DRX won the BGMI International Cup in New Delhi. When BMIC 2026 starts at the Dome, SVP Indoor Stadium in Mumbai on 30 October, he will be trying to beat them. HyunBin and Soez have both moved to Nongshim RedForce, Cyxae has left as well, and the DRX side defending the title has been rebuilt around QX, the only one of last year’s winners still in its core.
Sixteen teams play over three days, from 30 October to 1 November: six from India, five from South Korea and five from Japan. There is a ₹1 crore prize pool, and places at the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) 2026 in Türkiye for the top two.
Korea’s five, and the favourites
Korea filled its places two ways. Nongshim RedForce won the Korea e-Sports League (KEL) 2026 with 213 points from 12 matches, 104 points clear of Dplus KIA, who took the second ticket. DRX, FOCUS and GAME PT came through PUBG Mobile Pro Series (PMPS) 2026 Season 2.
Nongshim look like the team to beat. With HyunBin and Soez in their side, two of the players who lifted the trophy in Delhi are now lined up against the club that won it. DRX rebuilt in January, bringing in BINI from Nongshim and Hoxy and TRE from FN Esports. It is an odd way to defend a title. The players who won it are mostly in other shirts now, and two of them are in the shirt of the favourites.
Japan’s tight top five
Japan’s five are the top five from PUBG Mobile Japan League (PMJL) Season 6 Phase 2, and the margins there were small. Valor won it with 341 points, ahead of REIGNITE on 328, Versus on 321, MAKING THE ROAD on 319 and KINOTROPE gaming on 296. Valor’s title also put them straight into the PMGC 2026 Group Stage. REJECT, who played in Delhi last year, finished sixth and stay at home.
India’s six
India’s places went to the top six at the BGMI Showdown Grand Finals in Hyderabad, which ended on 18 October. Team SouL won on 155 points, ahead of Gladiators Esports (141), Team 8Bit (140), K9 Esports (135), Blitz Epigrotive Gaming (133) and Team Outrage (123). Version1 x Blue Army missed out by a single point.
SouL’s 103 eliminations in Hyderabad were the most of any team in the final. They also bring a PMGC ticket they have already won, and that changes the maths for everyone else.
Why third could be enough
The BMIC winner gets a place in the PMGC Gauntlet and the runner-up a Group Stage place. A team that has already qualified cannot take a second slot, so it passes to the next eligible team. If SouL finish in the top two in Mumbai, the team in third could be going to Türkiye too.
India’s last attempt came close. True Rippers finished second in Delhi on 137 points, 29 behind DRX’s 166, and took a PMGC 2025 Group Stage place with it. They are not in this year’s field.
Format and how to watch
All 16 teams play in one lobby, 18 matches across three days, with points carrying over and the highest total after match 18 taking the title. All three days stream on KRAFTON India Esports’ YouTube channel.
Nongshim should start as favourites. SouL, though, have a home crowd behind them and a title from last weekend, and they won that title from fourth place going into the final day. Over 18 matches, nobody is out of it after day one.