If you‘re curious about who the top earning esports athletes in India are, Piyush Nagar, better known as ScoutOP, takes the top spot. With estimated earnings of over $25,000 in 2022 primarily from Battlegrounds Mobile India tournaments, Scout is undisputedly the richest esports player in the country right now.
In this comprehensive guide, we deep dive into Piyush‘s background, his rise to fame, earnings breakdown, achievements, the factors behind his success, and the outlook for esports earnings in India. Let‘s get started!
Piyush Nagar‘s Background
Piyush Nagar, born on December 24, 2002, hails from Rajkot in the state of Gujarat. Right from his school days, he had a passion for gaming and started playing PUBG Mobile competitively back in 2018.
His raw skill and talent at the game were evident from the beginning. Soon after completing 12th grade, Piyush decided to pursue a full-time career in esports.
This risky decision paid off as he quickly rose through the ranks in the Indian esports circuit. Today, at 19 years old, he is the richest and one of the most renowned esports athletes in the country.
His Achievements and Accolades
Despite his young age, Piyush "ScoutOP" Nagar already has a long list of accolades under his belt:
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Winner of BGIS 2021 – India‘s biggest PUBG Mobile tournament with a ₹1.5 crore prize pool
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Winner of PMCO Spring Split 2020 – PUBG Mobile tournament with $200,000 prize pool
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Winner of PMPL South Asia 2020 – PUBG Mobile event with $200,000 prize money
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MVP in PMCO Spring Split 2020 for his all-round performance
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Qualified for the PUBG Mobile World League 2020 East Season Zero
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Ranked #1 in Sniper leaderboards in multiple PUBG Mobile tournaments
Thanks to his winning streak, Scout has emerged as the undisputed best PUBG Mobile and Battlegrounds Mobile India athlete in the country today.
Breakdown of Scout‘s Tournament Earnings
Here‘s a quick breakdown of ScoutOP‘s earnings from major tournaments he has won so far:
| Tournament | Year | Prize Money |
| BGIS 2021 | 2021 | $8,500 |
| PMCO Spring Split 2020 | 2020 | $8,000 |
| PMPL South Asia Season 1 | 2020 | $5,000 |
| BGMI Tournaments | 2022 | $3,500+ |
| Total | $25,000+ |
As you can see, a majority of his earnings come from winning major PUBG Mobile and BGMI events in the last 2 years. Besides tournaments, Scout also earns a steady income from streaming, YouTube and sponsorships.
Factors Behind Scout‘s Success
Piyush has managed to reach the pinnacle of esports in India due to a combination of factors:
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Raw skill: Scout is renowned for his crisp aim, great reflexes and versatility across roles like assaulter, support, sniper etc.
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Hard work: He trained for 8-12 hours daily to perfect his gameplay over the years.
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Competitive drive: Piyush has a burning passion to win and constantly improve as a player.
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Early adoption of streaming: He built a massive YouTube following of 2M+ subs by streaming regularly since 2019.
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Winning major events: Big tourney wins have earned Scout a lion‘s share of the prize money.
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Personality: His humble nature and interactions with fans have made him hugely popular.
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Support system: Scout credits his family and org Godlike for enabling his singular focus on esports.
Future Outlook for Esports Earnings in India
The esports industry in India is poised for massive growth in the coming years, which will directly benefit top players like ScoutOP. Here are some positive developments on the horizon:
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Mainstream acceptance: Award shows like the Esports Awards are raising awareness and legitimacy.
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Investments: Venture capital funds invested $544 million in esports startups in India in 2021.
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Increasing talent pool: More youngsters are taking up esports as an aspirational career now.
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Tournament prize money: There is a rising trend of bigger prize pools like BGIS‘s ₹1.5 crore.
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Platform growth: Streaming and esports platforms like LOCO, Skyesports are gaining popularity.
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Government support: Policies like the FIT India Movement provide indirect boost to esports.
As per industry projections, esports revenue in India will grow at a 46% CAGR to reach ₹11 billion by 2025. This bodes very well for top players like Scout as their income has massive room for growth in the future.
Parting Words
Piyush Nagar‘s journey from a young PUBG Mobile fanatic to becoming the richest esports athlete in India with $25,000+ earnings in 2022 is truly inspirational. He has achieved this dream through a potent mix of talent, grit, foresight and perseverance.
If adequate ecosystem support can be provided, we could see many more similar esports success stories from India on the world stage soon. The potential is immense. This was an in-depth look at the richest name in Indian esports presently – ScoutOP!
