Historic Debut for Competitive Gaming
For the first time ever, eSports will take center stage at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG). The event runs from May 4 to 14 in Bihar, with esports competitions specifically scheduled for May 6 and 7 at the Patliputra Sports Complex.
Players will compete in popular titles across multiple platforms. These include Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball. Consequently, this diverse lineup aims to attract various gaming audiences while simultaneously establishing competitive gaming as a legitimate sporting discipline.
Chess Makes Strategic Move to Esports
Although BGMI remains India's most popular esports title, Chess has notably transitioned into the digital competition realm. In fact, the game will feature in the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025 with an impressive prize pool of $1.5 million (₹12.6 crore).
NODWIN Gaming has actively pioneered this shift in India. Back in 2021, they organized the Chess Super League with national and international stars. Furthermore, they recently hosted Chess tournaments at DreamHack India 2024.
Industry Leaders Praise the Initiative
"This signals a big step forward for grassroots esports in India," says Akshat Rathee, Co-founder of NODWIN Gaming. "Most importantly, it's about creating real opportunities to discover talent from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, places that have been overlooked for too long."
Meanwhile, S8UL, a major force in esports, has signed Chess Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin for the EWC 2025. Additionally, they will field players in Street Fighter 6 and other titles.
Growing State and National Support
Several states already support esports at the local level. For instance, Bihar has organized state-level esports championships over the past year. Similarly, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland have also created formal grassroots programs.
On the international front, India has already achieved success in competitive gaming. As evidence, Pavan Kampelli won bronze in eFootball at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, esports will become an official medal sport at the 2026 Asian Games. Moreover, the first Olympic Esports Games will debut in 2027. These developments clearly highlight the global legitimization of competitive gaming.
In conclusion, KIYG 2025's inclusion of esports will help identify and develop gaming talent nationwide. As a result, with support from both state and national bodies, Indian esports has a promising future ahead.
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