JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation (EF) completed the first India Rising: Road to EWC Powered by BASF, a one-of-a-kind gaming festival meant to establish India as a vital market in the global esports ecosystem. The event not only crowned Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok as the latest qualifier for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 Chess championship, but also demonstrated how esports is maturing into a strategic development industry backed by government backing, corporate investment, creative culture, and international alliances.
The event, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre, included professional esports, chess, game developers, companies, live entertainment, and fan involvement, emphasising the commercial nexus of gaming, content, and young culture. The event also bolstered Maharashtra’s desire to become India’s premier hub for gaming, esports, and the digital creative economy.
Benjamin Bok qualified for the Esports World Cup after defeating Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi 2-1 in the Grand Finals, earning a spot in one of esports’ largest worldwide championships.
Speaking at the event, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, “Gaming has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of the global entertainment economy, and India has the talent and digital capability to play a leading role in its future. Maharashtra is committed to creating an enabling ecosystem for gaming, esports, digital content and the creator economy through progressive policies, world-class infrastructure and industry partnerships. India Rising: Road to EWC represents an important step towards creating global opportunities for Indian youth while strengthening Maharashtra’s position as a hub for the digital creative economy.”
For JioBLAST, the event is more than just a contest. It is part of a long-term goal to provide organised routes for Indian gamers by bringing together publishers, developers, marketers, and fans on a single platform. CEO Charlie Cowdrey stated that the enormous reaction confirmed India’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing gaming marketplaces and marked the start of a bigger ecosystem-building endeavour.
The event also underlined the growing commercialisation of Indian esports, with thousands of fans drawn in by groups like S8UL and GodLike, as well as creator-led experiences, cosplay activations, gaming zones and a live performance by Seedhe Maut. The event closed with the first Gaming Honours, which acknowledged creators, players, and companies that are moving the industry forward.
