Your Doctor Is Most Likely Consulting This Free AI Chatbot, Report Says
How would you like it if, when stumped or just in need of some help with an unfamiliar situation, your doctor consulted a free, ad-supported AI chatbot? That’s not actually a hypothetical. They probably are doing that, a new report from NBC News says.
It’s called OpenEvidence, and NBC says it was “used by about 65% of U.S. doctors across almost 27 million clinical encounters in April alone.” An earlier Bloomberg report on OpenEvidence from seven months ago said it had signed up 50% of American doctors at the time—so reported growth is rapid.
The OpenEvidence homepage trumpets the bot as “America’s Official Medical Knowledge Platform,” and says healthcare professionals qualify for unlimited free use, but non-doctors can try it for free without creating accounts. It gives long, detailed answers with extensive citations that superficially look—to me, a non-doctor—trustworthy and credible.
NBC interviewed doctors for its story, and apparently pressed them on how often they actually click those links to the sources of information, and “most said they only do so when they get an unexpected result,” NBC’s report says.
While it’s free, OpenEvidence is not a charity. It’s a Miami-headquartered tech unicorn with a billionaire founder named David Nadler, and as of January it boasted a $12 billion valuation. NBC says it’s backed by some of the all stars of Sand Hill Road: Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, along with Google Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Nvidia.
And its revenue comes from ads (for now), which NBC says are often for “pharmaceutical and medical device companies.”
I’m not capable of stress testing such a piece of software, but I kicked the tires slightly by asking Claude to generate doctor’s notes that are very bad and irresponsible (I said it was just a movie prop).
When I told OpenEvidence those were my notes and asked it to make sure they were good, thankfully, it confirmed that they were bad, saying in part:
“This clinical documentation raises serious patient safety concerns. The presentation described contains multiple red flags for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) that appear to have been insufficiently weighted, and the current management plan could result in significant harm.”
So that’s somewhat comforting.
On the other hand, according to NBC:
“[…]some healthcare providers were quick to point out that OpenEvidence occasionally flubbed or exaggerated its answers, particularly on rare conditions or in ‘edge’ cases.”
NBC’s report also clocked some worries within the medical community and elsewhere, in particular, a “lack of rigorous scientific studies on the tool’s patient impact,” and signs that OpenEvidence might be stunting the intellectual development of recent med school grads:
“One midcareer doctor in Missouri, who requested anonymity given the limited number of providers in their medical field in the country, said he was already seeing the detrimental effects of OpenEvidence on students’ ability to sort signals from noise.
‘My worry is that when we introduce a new tool, any kind of tool that is doing part of your skills that you had trained up for a while beforehand, you start losing those skills pretty quickly”
At a recent doctor’s appointment, my doctor asked my permission to use an AI tool on their phone (I don’t know if it was OpenEvidence). I didn’t know what to say other than yes. Do I want that for my doctor’s appointment? Not especially. But if my doctor has come to rely on a tool like this, then what am I supposed to do? Take away their crutch?
How would you like it if, when stumped or just in need of some help with an unfamiliar situation, your doctor consulted a free, ad-supported AI chatbot? That’s not actually a hypothetical. They probably are doing that, a new report from NBC News says.
It’s called OpenEvidence, and NBC says it was “used by about 65% of U.S. doctors across almost 27 million clinical encounters in April alone.” An earlier Bloomberg report on OpenEvidence from seven months ago said it had signed up 50% of American doctors at the time—so reported growth is rapid.
The OpenEvidence homepage trumpets the bot as “America’s Official Medical Knowledge Platform,” and says healthcare professionals qualify for unlimited free use, but non-doctors can try it for free without creating accounts. It gives long, detailed answers with extensive citations that superficially look—to me, a non-doctor—trustworthy and credible.
NBC interviewed doctors for its story, and apparently pressed them on how often they actually click those links to the sources of information, and “most said they only do so when they get an unexpected result,” NBC’s report says.
While it’s free, OpenEvidence is not a charity. It’s a Miami-headquartered tech unicorn with a billionaire founder named David Nadler, and as of January it boasted a $12 billion valuation. NBC says it’s backed by some of the all stars of Sand Hill Road: Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, along with Google Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Nvidia.
And its revenue comes from ads (for now), which NBC says are often for “pharmaceutical and medical device companies.”
I’m not capable of stress testing such a piece of software, but I kicked the tires slightly by asking Claude to generate doctor’s notes that are very bad and irresponsible (I said it was just a movie prop).
When I told OpenEvidence those were my notes and asked it to make sure they were good, thankfully, it confirmed that they were bad, saying in part:
“This clinical documentation raises serious patient safety concerns. The presentation described contains multiple red flags for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) that appear to have been insufficiently weighted, and the current management plan could result in significant harm.”
So that’s somewhat comforting.
On the other hand, according to NBC:
“[…]some healthcare providers were quick to point out that OpenEvidence occasionally flubbed or exaggerated its answers, particularly on rare conditions or in ‘edge’ cases.”
NBC’s report also clocked some worries within the medical community and elsewhere, in particular, a “lack of rigorous scientific studies on the tool’s patient impact,” and signs that OpenEvidence might be stunting the intellectual development of recent med school grads:
“One midcareer doctor in Missouri, who requested anonymity given the limited number of providers in their medical field in the country, said he was already seeing the detrimental effects of OpenEvidence on students’ ability to sort signals from noise.
‘My worry is that when we introduce a new tool, any kind of tool that is doing part of your skills that you had trained up for a while beforehand, you start losing those skills pretty quickly”
At a recent doctor’s appointment, my doctor asked my permission to use an AI tool on their phone (I don’t know if it was OpenEvidence). I didn’t know what to say other than yes. Do I want that for my doctor’s appointment? Not especially. But if my doctor has come to rely on a tool like this, then what am I supposed to do? Take away their crutch?
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#Doctor #Consulting #Free #Chatbot #Report
As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.
Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.
Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.
India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.
The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.
The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.
“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”
Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.
The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.
Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.
Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.
Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.
The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.
“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.
Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.
Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.
India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.
The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.
The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.
“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”
Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.
The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.
Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.
Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.
Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.
The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.
“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
#Walmartbacked #Flipkart #expands #quickcommerce #push #Amazon #ramps #India #TechCrunchAmazon,Flipkart,Quick commerce,Walmart">Walmart-backed Flipkart expands quick-commerce push as Amazon ramps up in India | TechCrunch
As quick commerce becomes India’s next e-commerce battleground, Walmart-backed Flipkart said Wednesday that its Minutes service has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers — small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes — less than two years after launch, a milestone Amazon is also targeting as it expands its fast-delivery business in the South Asian nation.
Flipkart said it plans to expand the network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026, a rapid buildout that would further strengthen its position in India’s fiercely competitive quick-commerce sector, where Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, and Amazon are racing to add infrastructure and customers.
Based on current store counts and announced expansion plans, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit, which operates 2,243 such centers, according to a recent note by Jefferies. Rivals Zepto and Swiggy Instamart are also expanding their networks.
India has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build networks that can deliver everything from groceries and beauty products to electronics in minutes. Blinkit, owned by food-delivery company Eternal, remains the market leader, while Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, and Amazon are investing heavily to expand their reach and win customers.
The competition has intensified in recent months as Amazon accelerates the rollout of Amazon Now, which is currently available in more than 15 cities and operates over 500 micro-fulfillment centers. The company plans to expand the service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers while broadening its assortment beyond groceries into categories such as apparel, electronics, and home products.
The shift is also showing up in shopping patterns on Flipkart Minutes, which launched in August 2024. Demand is increasingly coming from categories such as electronics, beauty, and personal care products rather than just groceries, Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, told TechCrunch. Orders on the platform have grown about 400% from a year earlier, while customer retention has increased 20% year-over-year, he said. Both figures come from the company and could not be independently verified.
“What began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians,” Gupta said. “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.”
Flipkart said it has expanded Minutes to more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes, with growth increasingly coming from smaller cities beyond India’s largest metropolitan areas. Those markets recorded more than 4,000% growth from a year earlier, aided by expansion into 90 new cities, according to the company.
The trend, Gupta said, is visible in the pace at which newly launched markets are maturing. He cited cities such as Patna, Guwahati, and Siliguri as examples of where new stores are ramping up faster than expected, and described Lucknow as one of Flipkart Minutes’ best-performing markets despite the company not yet covering the entire city with its network.
Amazon is also betting on demand outside India’s largest cities. The company told TechCrunch that 70% of new Prime members come from smaller markets and that it remains on track to double its Prime membership base from 2023 levels by year-end. Amazon added that everyday essentials now account for one in every two units shipped on Amazon.in, with Amazon Now increasing shopping frequency among customers.
Gupta told TechCrunch that Flipkart is seeing customers use Minutes alongside its main e-commerce platform rather than as a replacement for it, driving more frequent purchases and helping expand into categories such as fresh produce and daily essentials. The company said average order values for fruits and vegetables rose 30% year-over-year.
Flipkart, Gupta said, plans to continue opening between 75 and 100 micro-fulfillment centers a month while expanding into additional cities across the country.
The rapid expansion by Flipkart and Amazon underscores how India has become a testing ground for the next phase of e-commerce, with companies racing to turn quick commerce from a grocery-delivery service into a broader shopping platform. The country already has more than 5,500 dark stores, according to Bernstein, and industry analysts expect that number to rise to about 7,500 by 2030 as companies expand into smaller cities and widen their product offerings.
“We will continue to expand rapidly, will not slow down after 1,000 stores as well, and we are going all in,” Gupta said.
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
BMPS 2026 Grand Finals began in Jaipur, GodLike Esports weren’t the obvious favorites. Teams like Divine Gaming, Reckoning Esports, Nebula Esports, and Victoris Sumus had all looked stronger at different stages of the tournament. Yet 18 matches later, it was GodLike lifting the trophy, claiming a share of the ₹4 crore prize pool, and securing India’s direct slot at the Esports World Cup in Paris.
What makes GodLike’s championship run so impressive is that it wasn’t built on domination. They didn’t top Day 1. They weren’t the biggest story on Day 2. They didn’t collect an absurd number of chicken dinners. Instead, they won BMPS 2026 through something far more valuable in battle royale esports: consistency.
While nearly every title contender suffered a disastrous stretch at some point during the Grand Finals, GodLike remained competitive from start to finish. Their ability to avoid costly mistakes, win critical fights against direct rivals, and consistently put themselves in strong positions ultimately made the difference.
GodLike Never Had A Bad Day
Battle royale tournaments are often decided by who avoids disaster rather than who produces the most highlights. That was certainly true in Jaipur. Divine Gaming dominated much of the opening two days but struggled to maintain the same level on Championship Sunday. Victoris Sumus exploded into contention with several standout performances before losing momentum when it mattered most. God’s Reign mounted an incredible comeback but left itself too much work to do after a slow start. SouL spent most of Day 1 fighting simply to stay relevant.
GodLike, meanwhile, never experienced that kind of collapse. They weren’t always the highest-scoring team in the lobby, but they were almost always collecting something. Whether it was finish points, placement points, or valuable late-game appearances, GodLike consistently kept itself within striking distance of the leaders. That steady accumulation of points meant they never needed a miracle comeback heading into the final day.
Their Rotations Were Among The Best In The Tournament
One of the biggest differences between GodLike and many of their rivals was their decision-making during rotations. Throughout the Grand Finals, teams repeatedly lost players while attempting risky zone entries or taking unnecessary fights outside the safe zone. SouL, TAG, and Genesis all suffered from these mistakes at different points during the event. GodLike largely avoided them. Their rotations weren’t flashy, but they were efficient. Time and time again, they secured defensible compounds before other teams arrived, forcing opponents to rotate into them rather than the other way around.
That positional advantage became especially noticeable on the final day. While other contenders were often scrambling for cover in the closing circles, GodLike repeatedly found themselves holding strong positions near the center of the zone. In a battle royale, that kind of consistency is rarely accidental.
The Turning Point Came On Day 2
If there was a moment when GodLike’s title challenge became real, it arrived during Match 3 on Day 2. At that point, Divine Gaming looked like the team to beat. They had controlled much of the tournament and appeared well on their way to extending their lead atop the standings. GodLike had other plans. During the late game, they eliminated Divine before defeating Victoris Sumus to secure a crucial chicken dinner. The victory delivered more than just points. It sent a message to the rest of the lobby that GodLike could beat the strongest teams when it mattered most.
From that moment onward, they stopped looking like outsiders and started looking like genuine championship contenders. The standings still favored Divine, but momentum had clearly shifted.
GodLike Won The Fights That Mattered Most
One of the biggest reasons GodLike eventually won BMPS 2026 was their performance against direct rivals. Championships aren’t decided by farming points against struggling teams. They’re decided by winning the battles against the teams competing for the same trophy. GodLike repeatedly did exactly that.
On Championship Sunday, they dismantled 7 Gods during a crucial Rondo match before winning several important engagements against Victoris Sumus. Later, they shut down Nebula Esports’ hopes of mounting a comeback by defending their position perfectly and wiping out the entire squad.
Their aggressive push on Vasista Esports during Match 3 was another defining moment. Rather than waiting for the zone to force a difficult rotation, GodLike identified the threat, launched a coordinated shotgun assault, and cleared the compound entirely. These weren’t simply eliminations. Each of these fights directly impacted the title race by denying points to rival contenders while simultaneously boosting GodLike’s own total.
Divine Gaming Opened The Door
As much credit as GodLike deserves, championships are often shaped by both success and failure. Divine Gaming entered the final day as the team everyone expected to beat. They had been the most consistent roster throughout the opening stages of the tournament and appeared firmly in control of the standings. Then everything changed. Several early eliminations and difficult rotations prevented Divine from building on their lead. More importantly, they failed to capitalize on any weaker match by GodLike.
Even during moments when GodLike exited early, Divine couldn’t create the separation they needed. With every missed opportunity, the pressure shifted further away from Divine and onto the chasing pack. Eventually, the standings flipped entirely. Instead of everyone chasing Divine, everyone was chasing GodLike.
BMPS 2026 Grand Finals began in Jaipur, GodLike Esports weren’t the obvious favorites. Teams like Divine Gaming, Reckoning Esports, Nebula Esports, and Victoris Sumus had all looked stronger at different stages of the tournament. Yet 18 matches later, it was GodLike lifting the trophy, claiming a share of the ₹4 crore prize pool, and securing India’s direct slot at the Esports World Cup in Paris.
What makes GodLike’s championship run so impressive is that it wasn’t built on domination. They didn’t top Day 1. They weren’t the biggest story on Day 2. They didn’t collect an absurd number of chicken dinners. Instead, they won BMPS 2026 through something far more valuable in battle royale esports: consistency.
While nearly every title contender suffered a disastrous stretch at some point during the Grand Finals, GodLike remained competitive from start to finish. Their ability to avoid costly mistakes, win critical fights against direct rivals, and consistently put themselves in strong positions ultimately made the difference.
GodLike Never Had A Bad Day
Battle royale tournaments are often decided by who avoids disaster rather than who produces the most highlights. That was certainly true in Jaipur. Divine Gaming dominated much of the opening two days but struggled to maintain the same level on Championship Sunday. Victoris Sumus exploded into contention with several standout performances before losing momentum when it mattered most. God’s Reign mounted an incredible comeback but left itself too much work to do after a slow start. SouL spent most of Day 1 fighting simply to stay relevant.
GodLike, meanwhile, never experienced that kind of collapse. They weren’t always the highest-scoring team in the lobby, but they were almost always collecting something. Whether it was finish points, placement points, or valuable late-game appearances, GodLike consistently kept itself within striking distance of the leaders. That steady accumulation of points meant they never needed a miracle comeback heading into the final day.
Their Rotations Were Among The Best In The Tournament
One of the biggest differences between GodLike and many of their rivals was their decision-making during rotations. Throughout the Grand Finals, teams repeatedly lost players while attempting risky zone entries or taking unnecessary fights outside the safe zone. SouL, TAG, and Genesis all suffered from these mistakes at different points during the event. GodLike largely avoided them. Their rotations weren’t flashy, but they were efficient. Time and time again, they secured defensible compounds before other teams arrived, forcing opponents to rotate into them rather than the other way around.
That positional advantage became especially noticeable on the final day. While other contenders were often scrambling for cover in the closing circles, GodLike repeatedly found themselves holding strong positions near the center of the zone. In a battle royale, that kind of consistency is rarely accidental.
The Turning Point Came On Day 2
If there was a moment when GodLike’s title challenge became real, it arrived during Match 3 on Day 2. At that point, Divine Gaming looked like the team to beat. They had controlled much of the tournament and appeared well on their way to extending their lead atop the standings. GodLike had other plans. During the late game, they eliminated Divine before defeating Victoris Sumus to secure a crucial chicken dinner. The victory delivered more than just points. It sent a message to the rest of the lobby that GodLike could beat the strongest teams when it mattered most.
From that moment onward, they stopped looking like outsiders and started looking like genuine championship contenders. The standings still favored Divine, but momentum had clearly shifted.
GodLike Won The Fights That Mattered Most
One of the biggest reasons GodLike eventually won BMPS 2026 was their performance against direct rivals. Championships aren’t decided by farming points against struggling teams. They’re decided by winning the battles against the teams competing for the same trophy. GodLike repeatedly did exactly that.
On Championship Sunday, they dismantled 7 Gods during a crucial Rondo match before winning several important engagements against Victoris Sumus. Later, they shut down Nebula Esports’ hopes of mounting a comeback by defending their position perfectly and wiping out the entire squad.
Their aggressive push on Vasista Esports during Match 3 was another defining moment. Rather than waiting for the zone to force a difficult rotation, GodLike identified the threat, launched a coordinated shotgun assault, and cleared the compound entirely. These weren’t simply eliminations. Each of these fights directly impacted the title race by denying points to rival contenders while simultaneously boosting GodLike’s own total.
Divine Gaming Opened The Door
As much credit as GodLike deserves, championships are often shaped by both success and failure. Divine Gaming entered the final day as the team everyone expected to beat. They had been the most consistent roster throughout the opening stages of the tournament and appeared firmly in control of the standings. Then everything changed. Several early eliminations and difficult rotations prevented Divine from building on their lead. More importantly, they failed to capitalize on any weaker match by GodLike.
Even during moments when GodLike exited early, Divine couldn’t create the separation they needed. With every missed opportunity, the pressure shifted further away from Divine and onto the chasing pack. Eventually, the standings flipped entirely. Instead of everyone chasing Divine, everyone was chasing GodLike.
#GodLike #Won #BMPS #Grand #Finals #Secured #Spot #Esports #World #CupBGMI">How GodLike Won BMPS 2026 Grand Finals And Secured A Spot At The Esports World Cup
When the BMPS 2026 Grand Finals began in Jaipur, GodLike Esports weren’t the obvious favorites. Teams like Divine Gaming, Reckoning Esports, Nebula Esports, and Victoris Sumus had all looked stronger at different stages of the tournament. Yet 18 matches later, it was GodLike lifting the trophy, claiming a share of the ₹4 crore prize pool, and securing India’s direct slot at the Esports World Cup in Paris.
What makes GodLike’s championship run so impressive is that it wasn’t built on domination. They didn’t top Day 1. They weren’t the biggest story on Day 2. They didn’t collect an absurd number of chicken dinners. Instead, they won BMPS 2026 through something far more valuable in battle royale esports: consistency.
While nearly every title contender suffered a disastrous stretch at some point during the Grand Finals, GodLike remained competitive from start to finish. Their ability to avoid costly mistakes, win critical fights against direct rivals, and consistently put themselves in strong positions ultimately made the difference.
GodLike Never Had A Bad Day
Battle royale tournaments are often decided by who avoids disaster rather than who produces the most highlights. That was certainly true in Jaipur. Divine Gaming dominated much of the opening two days but struggled to maintain the same level on Championship Sunday. Victoris Sumus exploded into contention with several standout performances before losing momentum when it mattered most. God’s Reign mounted an incredible comeback but left itself too much work to do after a slow start. SouL spent most of Day 1 fighting simply to stay relevant.
GodLike, meanwhile, never experienced that kind of collapse. They weren’t always the highest-scoring team in the lobby, but they were almost always collecting something. Whether it was finish points, placement points, or valuable late-game appearances, GodLike consistently kept itself within striking distance of the leaders. That steady accumulation of points meant they never needed a miracle comeback heading into the final day.
Their Rotations Were Among The Best In The Tournament
One of the biggest differences between GodLike and many of their rivals was their decision-making during rotations. Throughout the Grand Finals, teams repeatedly lost players while attempting risky zone entries or taking unnecessary fights outside the safe zone. SouL, TAG, and Genesis all suffered from these mistakes at different points during the event. GodLike largely avoided them. Their rotations weren’t flashy, but they were efficient. Time and time again, they secured defensible compounds before other teams arrived, forcing opponents to rotate into them rather than the other way around.
That positional advantage became especially noticeable on the final day. While other contenders were often scrambling for cover in the closing circles, GodLike repeatedly found themselves holding strong positions near the center of the zone. In a battle royale, that kind of consistency is rarely accidental.
The Turning Point Came On Day 2
If there was a moment when GodLike’s title challenge became real, it arrived during Match 3 on Day 2. At that point, Divine Gaming looked like the team to beat. They had controlled much of the tournament and appeared well on their way to extending their lead atop the standings. GodLike had other plans. During the late game, they eliminated Divine before defeating Victoris Sumus to secure a crucial chicken dinner. The victory delivered more than just points. It sent a message to the rest of the lobby that GodLike could beat the strongest teams when it mattered most.
From that moment onward, they stopped looking like outsiders and started looking like genuine championship contenders. The standings still favored Divine, but momentum had clearly shifted.
GodLike Won The Fights That Mattered Most
One of the biggest reasons GodLike eventually won BMPS 2026 was their performance against direct rivals. Championships aren’t decided by farming points against struggling teams. They’re decided by winning the battles against the teams competing for the same trophy. GodLike repeatedly did exactly that.
On Championship Sunday, they dismantled 7 Gods during a crucial Rondo match before winning several important engagements against Victoris Sumus. Later, they shut down Nebula Esports’ hopes of mounting a comeback by defending their position perfectly and wiping out the entire squad.
Their aggressive push on Vasista Esports during Match 3 was another defining moment. Rather than waiting for the zone to force a difficult rotation, GodLike identified the threat, launched a coordinated shotgun assault, and cleared the compound entirely. These weren’t simply eliminations. Each of these fights directly impacted the title race by denying points to rival contenders while simultaneously boosting GodLike’s own total.
Divine Gaming Opened The Door
As much credit as GodLike deserves, championships are often shaped by both success and failure. Divine Gaming entered the final day as the team everyone expected to beat. They had been the most consistent roster throughout the opening stages of the tournament and appeared firmly in control of the standings. Then everything changed. Several early eliminations and difficult rotations prevented Divine from building on their lead. More importantly, they failed to capitalize on any weaker match by GodLike.
Even during moments when GodLike exited early, Divine couldn’t create the separation they needed. With every missed opportunity, the pressure shifted further away from Divine and onto the chasing pack. Eventually, the standings flipped entirely. Instead of everyone chasing Divine, everyone was chasing GodLike.
Whether or not you thought the premiere, titled “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” lived up to those claims, there’s no denying the naval battle offered a powerful showcase for two characters in particular: Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka “the Sea Snake,” played by Steve Toussaint, and Alyn of Hull, Corlys’ first mate (and illegitimate son), played by Abubakar Salim.
In House of the Dragon season two, we saw just how much hurt Alyn carried over the fact that his father, one of Westeros’ most powerful lords, had never been there for Alyn and his younger brother, Addam (Clinton Liberty).
As season three begins, Corlys is at a place where he’s able to take responsibility for the estrangement, and he expresses that to Alyn as they’re meeting in his captain’s cabin. It feels like the healing is starting to begin when the battle erupts, and both men shift into warrior mode.
It’s a thrilling sequence, punctuated by standout moments for both Corlys and Alyn. At a recent House of the Dragon press day attended by io9 and other outlets, io9 asked Salim about the moment when Alyn, at a distance, watches Corlys tumble overboard amid a fierce hand-to-hand fight with Triarchy leader Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn).
He calls out, not “Lord Corlys,” as he’s always called him, but “Father!” It’s a huge shift for the character, coming so soon after their meaningful discussion.
“I don’t think anything is going through his mind. I think it’s actually just a very primal, reactive thing that comes out of him,” Salim said. “I think where it comes from is a place of a primal pain, a primal need for a father. I think the scene before that where they’re in the cabin, and they’re having this moment, and Corlys reveals himself is beautifully performed by Steve in a very vulnerable way.”
Even as the action kicks into ferociously high gear, “I think that stays with Alyn, because it’s almost like, ‘We need to finish this conversation because we were getting somewhere.’ Obviously he goes into battle mode, begins fighting and everything, but when he sees Corlys go [overboard] I think all that comes back up, and I think that’s what triggers this almost, like, release. I guess the best [thing] I can kind of relate it to is like when you wake up from a nightmare screaming. You have no idea where it’s come from; it just comes, and I think that’s where that ‘father’ came from.”
Before Corlys and Admiral Lohar actually come face-to-face, we see the bad blood between them come to a head in a way that ties into their skills as veteran sailors. As the Battle of the Gullet rages, Corlys realizes Lohar is not really there to fight in Westeros’ war. Instead, she’s hellbent on revenge. She wants the Sea Snake to pay for all the destruction he’s wreaked on Triarchy soldiers for decades.
Corlys hits on a plan to weaken the enemy. He points his ship, the Queen Who Never Was, into the narrow Dragonstone pass, knowing Lohar will follow on her ship, the Bitchfist. The Triarchy fleet will be rudderless without its leader. And since Corlys has spent his entire life navigating these treacherous shores, he knows how to make it safely through.
At last, the viewer gets to see the Sea Snake show off the sailing skills that have made him a legend across Westeros.
“I remember [episode director Loni Peristere] saying, ‘This is when we see what the Sea Snake can do,’” Toussaint said. “He has memorized this journey. He knows where all the rock [obstacles] are, and this is where we see what he can do. It does feel massive. I mean, look, you don’t play epic; you play the moment. But there was half a mind to, ‘I think this will be impressive for people watching it,’ because it certainly felt [epic] doing it.”
It is indeed epic, but as viewers saw, Lohar is able to trace the Sea Snake’s route exactly, and her ship also emerges unscathed—leading into that up-close-and-personal confrontation involving lots of scrambling, punches, and blades.
Corlys’ fate is unknown at the end of episode one, leaving viewers wondering if he and Alyn will ever get a chance to build up their nascent father-son relationship. Fortunately, there’s a new episode of House of the Dragon season three arriving Sunday on HBO.
Whether or not you thought the premiere, titled “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” lived up to those claims, there’s no denying the naval battle offered a powerful showcase for two characters in particular: Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka “the Sea Snake,” played by Steve Toussaint, and Alyn of Hull, Corlys’ first mate (and illegitimate son), played by Abubakar Salim.
In House of the Dragon season two, we saw just how much hurt Alyn carried over the fact that his father, one of Westeros’ most powerful lords, had never been there for Alyn and his younger brother, Addam (Clinton Liberty).
As season three begins, Corlys is at a place where he’s able to take responsibility for the estrangement, and he expresses that to Alyn as they’re meeting in his captain’s cabin. It feels like the healing is starting to begin when the battle erupts, and both men shift into warrior mode.
It’s a thrilling sequence, punctuated by standout moments for both Corlys and Alyn. At a recent House of the Dragon press day attended by io9 and other outlets, io9 asked Salim about the moment when Alyn, at a distance, watches Corlys tumble overboard amid a fierce hand-to-hand fight with Triarchy leader Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn).
He calls out, not “Lord Corlys,” as he’s always called him, but “Father!” It’s a huge shift for the character, coming so soon after their meaningful discussion.
“I don’t think anything is going through his mind. I think it’s actually just a very primal, reactive thing that comes out of him,” Salim said. “I think where it comes from is a place of a primal pain, a primal need for a father. I think the scene before that where they’re in the cabin, and they’re having this moment, and Corlys reveals himself is beautifully performed by Steve in a very vulnerable way.”
Even as the action kicks into ferociously high gear, “I think that stays with Alyn, because it’s almost like, ‘We need to finish this conversation because we were getting somewhere.’ Obviously he goes into battle mode, begins fighting and everything, but when he sees Corlys go [overboard] I think all that comes back up, and I think that’s what triggers this almost, like, release. I guess the best [thing] I can kind of relate it to is like when you wake up from a nightmare screaming. You have no idea where it’s come from; it just comes, and I think that’s where that ‘father’ came from.”
Before Corlys and Admiral Lohar actually come face-to-face, we see the bad blood between them come to a head in a way that ties into their skills as veteran sailors. As the Battle of the Gullet rages, Corlys realizes Lohar is not really there to fight in Westeros’ war. Instead, she’s hellbent on revenge. She wants the Sea Snake to pay for all the destruction he’s wreaked on Triarchy soldiers for decades.
Corlys hits on a plan to weaken the enemy. He points his ship, the Queen Who Never Was, into the narrow Dragonstone pass, knowing Lohar will follow on her ship, the Bitchfist. The Triarchy fleet will be rudderless without its leader. And since Corlys has spent his entire life navigating these treacherous shores, he knows how to make it safely through.
At last, the viewer gets to see the Sea Snake show off the sailing skills that have made him a legend across Westeros.
“I remember [episode director Loni Peristere] saying, ‘This is when we see what the Sea Snake can do,’” Toussaint said. “He has memorized this journey. He knows where all the rock [obstacles] are, and this is where we see what he can do. It does feel massive. I mean, look, you don’t play epic; you play the moment. But there was half a mind to, ‘I think this will be impressive for people watching it,’ because it certainly felt [epic] doing it.”
It is indeed epic, but as viewers saw, Lohar is able to trace the Sea Snake’s route exactly, and her ship also emerges unscathed—leading into that up-close-and-personal confrontation involving lots of scrambling, punches, and blades.
Corlys’ fate is unknown at the end of episode one, leaving viewers wondering if he and Alyn will ever get a chance to build up their nascent father-son relationship. Fortunately, there’s a new episode of House of the Dragon season three arriving Sunday on HBO.
#Seafaring #Stars #House #Dragon #JawDropping #Season #PremiereAbubakar Salim,HBO,House of the Dragon,Steve Toussaint">The Seafaring Stars of ‘House of the Dragon’ on That Jaw-Dropping Season 3 Premiere
Whether or not you thought the premiere, titled “Salt and Sea, Fire and Blood,” lived up to those claims, there’s no denying the naval battle offered a powerful showcase for two characters in particular: Lord Corlys Velaryon, aka “the Sea Snake,” played by Steve Toussaint, and Alyn of Hull, Corlys’ first mate (and illegitimate son), played by Abubakar Salim.
In House of the Dragon season two, we saw just how much hurt Alyn carried over the fact that his father, one of Westeros’ most powerful lords, had never been there for Alyn and his younger brother, Addam (Clinton Liberty).
As season three begins, Corlys is at a place where he’s able to take responsibility for the estrangement, and he expresses that to Alyn as they’re meeting in his captain’s cabin. It feels like the healing is starting to begin when the battle erupts, and both men shift into warrior mode.
It’s a thrilling sequence, punctuated by standout moments for both Corlys and Alyn. At a recent House of the Dragon press day attended by io9 and other outlets, io9 asked Salim about the moment when Alyn, at a distance, watches Corlys tumble overboard amid a fierce hand-to-hand fight with Triarchy leader Admiral Sharako Lohar (Abigail Thorn).
He calls out, not “Lord Corlys,” as he’s always called him, but “Father!” It’s a huge shift for the character, coming so soon after their meaningful discussion.
“I don’t think anything is going through his mind. I think it’s actually just a very primal, reactive thing that comes out of him,” Salim said. “I think where it comes from is a place of a primal pain, a primal need for a father. I think the scene before that where they’re in the cabin, and they’re having this moment, and Corlys reveals himself is beautifully performed by Steve in a very vulnerable way.”
Even as the action kicks into ferociously high gear, “I think that stays with Alyn, because it’s almost like, ‘We need to finish this conversation because we were getting somewhere.’ Obviously he goes into battle mode, begins fighting and everything, but when he sees Corlys go [overboard] I think all that comes back up, and I think that’s what triggers this almost, like, release. I guess the best [thing] I can kind of relate it to is like when you wake up from a nightmare screaming. You have no idea where it’s come from; it just comes, and I think that’s where that ‘father’ came from.”
Before Corlys and Admiral Lohar actually come face-to-face, we see the bad blood between them come to a head in a way that ties into their skills as veteran sailors. As the Battle of the Gullet rages, Corlys realizes Lohar is not really there to fight in Westeros’ war. Instead, she’s hellbent on revenge. She wants the Sea Snake to pay for all the destruction he’s wreaked on Triarchy soldiers for decades.
Corlys hits on a plan to weaken the enemy. He points his ship, the Queen Who Never Was, into the narrow Dragonstone pass, knowing Lohar will follow on her ship, the Bitchfist. The Triarchy fleet will be rudderless without its leader. And since Corlys has spent his entire life navigating these treacherous shores, he knows how to make it safely through.
At last, the viewer gets to see the Sea Snake show off the sailing skills that have made him a legend across Westeros.
“I remember [episode director Loni Peristere] saying, ‘This is when we see what the Sea Snake can do,’” Toussaint said. “He has memorized this journey. He knows where all the rock [obstacles] are, and this is where we see what he can do. It does feel massive. I mean, look, you don’t play epic; you play the moment. But there was half a mind to, ‘I think this will be impressive for people watching it,’ because it certainly felt [epic] doing it.”
It is indeed epic, but as viewers saw, Lohar is able to trace the Sea Snake’s route exactly, and her ship also emerges unscathed—leading into that up-close-and-personal confrontation involving lots of scrambling, punches, and blades.
Corlys’ fate is unknown at the end of episode one, leaving viewers wondering if he and Alyn will ever get a chance to build up their nascent father-son relationship. Fortunately, there’s a new episode of House of the Dragon season three arriving Sunday on HBO.
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