For the first time ever, esports featured as a demonstration sport at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) held in Bihar from May 4 to 14, with esports competitions taking place on May 6 and 7 at the Patliputra Sports Complex. Popular titles included Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball across both mobile and console platforms.
♟️ Chess in the Spotlight:
While BGMI remains India’s most popular esports game, the inclusion of Chess marked a significant moment—highlighting the blend of classical sport and digital competition. Chess also features prominently in the upcoming Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, which offers a prize pool of US$1.5 million (₹12.6 crore).
🗣️ Akshat Rathee, Nodwin Gaming co-founder & MD:
“Esports standing shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports is encouraging. Chess bridges classical and digital strategy, reflecting global trends. This initiative will uncover talent from Tier 2 and 3 cities that have been overlooked, helping India build a future where gamers dominate worldwide.”
🏆 S8UL’s Participation:
S8UL has signed chess Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin for the EWC 2025. Besides Chess, S8UL will compete in Street Fighter 6, EAFC25, Call of Duty Warzone, Tekken 8, and Apex Legends.
🗣️ Animesh Agarwal, S8UL CEO & Co-founder:
“Seeing Street Fighter 6 and Chess recognised by a government initiative while we represent India at EWC 2025 is inspiring. This support is vital for nurturing grassroots talent across diverse games and validates esports as a mainstream sport in India.”
🏅 Growing Grassroots Support:
Bihar has led esports adoption with events like the Bihar State Esports Open Championship and inter-school/college championships. Other states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland are also investing in grassroots esports programs.
💡 Mikhail Bhuta, Dirtcube Interactive co-founder:
“Including esports in KIYG is a practical step toward building a grassroots ecosystem for new-age sports. We expect future esports champions to emerge nationally, strengthening India’s global presence. We also foresee homegrown esports games featuring in KIYG’s coming seasons.”
🌏 Looking Ahead:
- Esports will be an official medal sport at the 2026 Asian Games
- The first Olympic Esports Games is slated for debut in 2027
This landmark inclusion underscores India’s growing recognition of esports alongside traditional sports, fueling a promising future for competitive gaming in the country.
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