THE ESPORTS FOUNDATION and JioBLAST have announced a partnership to launch India Rising: Road to EWC, a national competition pathway and festival ahead of the Esports World Cup 2026 in Riyadh. The partnership’s future beyond 2026 will be formalised through an MoU to jointly develop the esports ecosystem in India.
The 2026 edition features Chess as its inaugural competitive title, with nationwide open qualifiers culminating in a grand final at an offline festival in Mumbai. The winner will advance to the EWC 2026 Chess main event from August 11-15. All titled Indian players will be invited to a closed qualifier, with over 10,000 grassroots players expected to register for the open category, a media release said.
The Mumbai festival will feature the Chess finals alongside VALORANT and Moba Legends: 5v5 exhibition matches, live music, cosplay, comedy, interactive gaming zones, and creator programming.
Esports Foundation CCO Mohammed Al Nimer 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 CEO Charlie Cowdrey commented, “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.”
India has a strong Chess tradition, with Grandmasters Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi among its leading names. The country’s gaming market is expected to cross 500 million players in 2026, with spending projected to exceed $1 billion.
JioBLAST will oversee the design and delivery of India Rising, covering competition, festival, and content. The initiative creates a pathway from grassroots participation in India to global competition at the EWC, the release said.
Chess returns to EWC this summer with a $1.5 million prize pool, expanding to a 21-player field with a play-in stage. Qualification routes include the India Rising pathway, Champions Chess Tour, and Chess.com events. Magnus Carlsen won the inaugural title at EWC 2025.
