Esports Foundation and JioBLAST Unite to Launch ‘India Rising: Road to EWC’ Ahead of Esports World Cup 2026
Bengaluru: Esports Foundation and JioBLAST Unite to Launch ‘India Rising: Road to EWC’
In a groundbreaking move for the Indian gaming community, the Esports Foundation (EF) and JioBLAST announced a strategic partnership on Monday to unveil ‘India Rising: Road to EWC’. This initiative aims to create a national competition pathway and festival leading up to the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the largest esports event globally.
The partnership, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), seeks to develop a sustainable esports ecosystem in India, with ‘India Rising’ serving as a flagship property connected to the EWC. This initiative is set to kick off with nationwide open qualifiers for Chess, culminating in a grand finals at a fan festival in Mumbai. The winner will earn a coveted spot in the EWC 2026 chess main event, scheduled for August 11-15, 2026, in Riyadh.
The event is expected to attract over 10,000 grassroots players from across India, with all titled Indian players invited to participate in a closed qualifier section. The festival will not only showcase the chess finals but also feature creator programming, entertainment, and interactive fan experiences, making it a must-attend event for gaming enthusiasts.
Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST, emphasized the significance of this partnership, stating, “India has the second biggest gaming base and one of the most passionate gaming communities in the world, but what has been missing is a clear and credible pathway from India into the biggest global stages. Partnering with the Esports World Cup to build ‘India Rising: Road to EWC’ will change that.”
India is rapidly emerging as a powerhouse in the gaming industry, projected to surpass 500 million players by 2026, with player spending expected to exceed $1 billion. The majority of this growth is driven by mobile gaming, with approximately 95% of players engaging on mobile devices.
Chess will return to the EWC this summer with a staggering $1.5 million prize pool, following its successful debut last year, where Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid) claimed the inaugural title. The competition will expand to include a 21-player field, with qualification routes including the ‘India Rising’ pathway alongside the Champions Chess Tour and Chess.com.
As the countdown to the Esports World Cup 2026 begins, ‘India Rising: Road to EWC’ promises to be a transformative journey for Indian gamers, paving the way for future champions on the global stage.