Competing in Group B of the continental qualifier held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, India defeated Sri Lanka, Jordan and Kazakhstan to finish atop the group with three wins from three matches.

India began its campaign with a 1-0 victory over Sri Lanka on June 12 before recording back-to-back 1-0 wins against Jordan and Kazakhstan on June 13 to complete an unbeaten run through the group stage.

The Indian squad was led by captain Akshaj Shenoy and featured Sanindhya Malik, Aakash Shandilya, Mihir Ranjan, Rahul Bisht and Ahmed Shahid.

The League of Legends Asian Games Qualifier featured 14 nations divided into four groups. Group A comprised Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Pakistan, while Group C included Malaysia, Hong Kong China and Kyrgyzstan. Group D featured Viet Nam, Laos and Mongolia.

Speaking after the qualification, India captain Akshaj Shenoy said;

“I am extremely proud of the whole team for delivering a spectacular performance and securing a clean 3-0 record in our group. We are super happy that years of practice and perseverance have finally paid off on an international stage, allowing us to showcase India’s potential to the rest of the world. A big thank you to ESFI for facilitating our success and supporting us from the very beginning.”

The qualification marks another significant achievement for Indian esports and reinforces the country’s growing stature in continental competition. Having recorded its best-ever Asian Games esports finish with a fifth-place result in League of Legends at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, India will head to Aichi-Nagoya 2026 with ambitions of improving on that performance and securing the nation’s first-ever esports medal at the Asian Games since the discipline’s formal inclusion in the Games programme in 2022.

“This undefeated qualifying run is a proud moment for Indian esports and a testament to the squad’s relentless dedication, discipline, and preparation. Building on our historic achievement at the Hangzhou Asian Games, our focus now shifts entirely to Aichi-Nagoya 2026. The objective is clear — to make history once again and secure India’s first-ever Asian Games esports medal.”— Lokesh Suji, Honorary General Secretary, ESFI

With League of Legends confirmed as a medal event at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, India will now turn its focus towards preparations for the prestigious multi-sport event scheduled to be held in Japan later this year.

Mumbai, India (May 11, 2026) – The Esports Foundation (EF) and JioBLAST has today announced a strategic partnership to launch India Rising: Road to EWC, a national competition pathway and a festival hosted in India ahead of the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC), the world’s largest esports and gaming event. The future vision of the partnership beyond 2026 will be formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly develop the ecosystem, beginning with India Rising: Road to EWC as a long-term flagship property connected to EWC in India.

Delivered in collaboration with Jio (for use of its digital platforms) and Chess.com, India Rising will feature international nationwide open qualifiers for Chess, culminating in a grand finals held on LAN at the fan festival, with the winner advancing to the EWC 2026 Chess main event, held in Riyadh from August 11-15, 2026. While the 2026 edition introduces Chess as its inaugural competitive title, building on India’s global strength in the game, India Rising: Road to EWC is designed to scale in future years, expanding into multiple esports formats and fan-centric experiences as the platform continues to evolve.

All titled Indian players will be invited to the closed qualifier section of India Rising, with more than 10,000 grassroots players across the country expected to sign up for open registration.

The festival will be held offline in Mumbai, where attendees can experience the India Rising Chess finals alongside creator programming, entertainment, and interactive fan experiences. Additional exhibition matches in VALORANT and Moba Legends: 5v5! will form part of the program, which will bring together competitive esports and live entertainment, featuring live music, cosplay, comedy, interactive gaming zones, and dedicated creator areas for fan engagement.

“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,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer of the Esports Foundation. “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.”

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.”

India is one of the world’s leading Chess nations, led by a new generation of Grandmasters including Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi. India was represented at the Esports World Cup 2025 by Sarin and Erigaisi, competing for S8UL and Gen.G, respectively, reflecting the country’s impact at the highest level of competition. India is one of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally, expected to surpass 500 million players in 2026, with player spending projected to exceed $1 billion. The market is predominantly mobile, with approximately 95% of players on mobile devices.

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.” 

JioBLAST will lead the design and delivery of India Rising, including competition, festival and content. The initiative establishes a structured route from grassroots participation in India to global competition at the EWC. Given India’s evolving regulatory ecosystem, JioBLAST continues to engage with regulators.

Chess returns to EWC this summer with a $1.5 million prize pool following its debut last year, where Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid) won the inaugural title. The competition expands to a 21-player field, with a play-in stage and qualification routes including the India Rising pathway alongside Champions Chess Tour and Chess.com events.

Official Trailer Launch Film Link: https://youtu.be/fAl2lnEuxaw