India Rising: Road To EWC Charts Official National Pathway For Esports World Cup 2026

The Esports Foundation and JioBLAST have launched India Rising: Road to EWC, a national pathway to the Esports World Cup 2026. The programme centres on chess, with more than 10,000 players expected for qualifiers before a live festival and LAN grand final in Mumbai.

The collaboration creates an official Indian route to the Esports World Cup 2026, scheduled in Riyadh from 11 to 15 August 2026. A Memorandum of Understanding will formalise plans beyond 2026, positioning India Rising as a long-term flagship property linked to future Esports World Cup editions.

Structure of India Rising competition

India Rising will run in partnership with Jio, using its digital platforms, and Chess.com. There will be nationwide open qualifiers for chess, followed by closed qualifiers for all titled Indian players. The champion at the Mumbai LAN final will secure a Chess berth at Esports World Cup 2026.

Future expansion beyond chess

Chess is the inaugural competitive title for India Rising, highlighting India’s global strength in the game. The organisers plan to expand the platform in future years. They aim to include multiple esports formats and more fan-focused experiences as the property scales with the maturing Indian market.

The India Rising festival will be held offline in Mumbai. Fans can watch the chess finals and enjoy creator programming, entertainment, and interactive zones. Exhibition matches in VALORANT and Moba Legends: 5v5 will feature, alongside live music, cosplay, comedy, gaming zones, and creator areas for fan interaction.

Vision from Esports Foundation

Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer of the Esports Foundation, said, “The Esports World Cup's purpose is to unite the global gaming community, and that means investing in regions shaping the future of the industry. India is central to that vision. With hundreds of millions of players, it is home to leading chess talent, elite championship Clubs to digital platforms redefining how fans engage with esports. Through partnership with JioBlast, we are creating new opportunities for Indian players to compete at the highest level, while bringing the EWC closer to its fans in the country.”

JioBLAST on Indian pathway to global stages

Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST, said, “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. Starting with Chess.com in 2026, this is about opening the door for Indian talent, building stronger connections between players, fans and publishers, and creating an ecosystem that can grow with the market over time. We are proud to be building it with the Esports Foundation and are excited for what this will become in the future years together.”

Avadh Shah, Country Director – India, Chess.com, said, “India is one of the most exciting chess communities in the world, with incredible depth of talent across both the grassroots and elite levels. We're proud to partner on India Rising: Road to EWC to help create a truly open and competitive pathway for players across the country. We're looking forward to delivering a world class experience by combining our massive platform with the scale of Jio and the global stage of the Esports World Cup.”

India’s chess strength and esports growth

India is a leading chess nation, driven by Grandmasters Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi. At Esports World Cup 2025, Sarin represented S8UL and Erigaisi represented Gen.G. India’s gaming market is forecast to pass 500 million players in 2026, with spending above 1 billion dollars.

JioBLAST will oversee competition design, festival execution, and content for India Rising. The initiative provides a structured route from grassroots play in India to Esports World Cup competition. JioBLAST continues to engage with regulators, recognising India’s evolving regulatory environment around gaming and esports activities across platforms.

Chess at the Esports World Cup 2026

Chess returns to the Esports World Cup this summer with a prize pool of 1.5 million dollars, after its debut last year when Magnus Carlsen of Team Liquid took the first title. The event grows to a 21-player field, with a play-in stage and qualification routes including India Rising, Champions Chess Tour, and Chess.com events.