MUMBAI: The Esports Foundation (EF) and JioBLAST have 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

The post Introducing the “India Rising: Road to EWC” Festival appeared first on NRI News.

Speaking after meeting the young chess ace, Adani Group Chairman Mr Gautam Adani said, “We are extremely proud to support the dynamic Praggnanandhaa. The speed and efficiency with which he has progressed in the sport is nothing short of remarkable, and truly an example to all Indians. There is nothing more noble than representing the nation and winning laurels at the highest levels, and the Adani Group is wholeheartedly devoted to supporting athletes in this journey.”

“I am extremely keen on ensuring that my country does well on the global stage. Whenever I play, my sole aim is to win more laurels for the nation. I would like to thank the Adani Group for putting their trust in my abilities,” said Praggnanandhaa.

In 2023, he became the world’s youngest chess player to reach the World Cup final, and only the second Indian after Viswanathan Anand to achieve the feat. In 2022, the shy and soft-spoken teenager caused heads to turn in the world of chess by defeating Magnus Carlsen multiple times, shining the spotlight on India’s progress. The Chennai-based Praggnanandhaa, who loves mathematics and unwinds by watching TV or listening to Tamil music, also won the silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023.

Praggnanandhaa, who started playing at the tender age of 5, went on to become India’s youngest and the then world’s second-youngest Grandmaster at age 12 in 2018. He is the fifth-youngest person ever to achieve the title of Grandmaster after Abhimanyu Mishra, Sergey Karjakin, Gukesh D, and Javokhir Sindarov. Incidentally, his elder sister R. Vaishali is also a Grandmaster, which makes the siblings the world’s first-ever brother-sister GM duo.

The Adani Group, through its flagship #GarvHai initiative, has supported 28 talented players across sports such as boxing, wrestling, tennis, javelin throw, shooting, running, shotput, brisk walking, and archery. Among those who benefited are Commonwealth Games gold medallist wrestlers Ravi Kumar Dahiya and Deepak Punia and boxer Amit Panghal. Dahiya and Punia also secured silver medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics 2020 and the 2023 Asian Games.

The post Adani Group to back Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa appeared first on NRI News.

The teams from Yerawada Central Jail Pune and Children Correctional Home Bhopal have been coached under the Parivartan-Prison to Pride initiative, which covers 105 prison and juvenile homes, 29 state and UT, and over 5,000 inmates and juveniles in five phases. The initiative provides training in various sports, including chess, basketball, badminton, volleyball, and carrom, to inmates across prisons in India, promoting their physical and mental well-being.

The IndianOil coaches include former Women’s National Champion Manjusha Kanwar, Arjuna awardee Abhinn Shyam Gupta, former Doubles National Champion S Arun Vishnu, Chess Woman Grand Masters Soumya Swaminathan and Padmini Raut, Grand Masters Lalith Babu and Abhijit Kunte, Tennis ace Rushmi Chakravarthi, and renowned International Carrom players Yogesh Pardeshi, Mohd Gufran, and Kajal Kumari. Former first-class cricketer Mr. B G Joglekar has guided the inmates throughout the program.

The Intercontinental “Chess for Freedom” online chess championship for prisoners brought together 118 teams from 50 countries, representing all continents, offering inmates a unique opportunity to connect with peers across the globe. The Corporation, in association with the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and Prison Authorities, provided essential facilities for the tournament, including training, computers, and internet access to all participating Indian prisons.

Felicitating the team members from both locations, Shrikant Madhav Vaidya, Chairman, of IndianOil, said, “We are extremely proud of this ‘beyond business’ intervention, and successes like this give us confidence to further invest in such social stewardship initiatives that have the potential to truly make a difference at the grassroots. This remarkable achievement will further strengthen our resolve to uplift the lives of inmates and offer resilience, hope, and second chances.“

IndianOil has garnered recognition and accolades for this outstanding social work. It received the “Sports for Social Good” award from “The Hindu” and Sports Star for its remarkable contributions through the Parivartan-Prison to Pride Initiative. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) also invited the team to the first “Chess for Freedom” conference in Chicago in May 2023.

IndianOil is a diversified, integrated energy major with a net profit of Rs. [?]8,242 crores for fiscal 2022-23, touching the lives of over a billion Indians. With a 31,000-plus workforce, extensive refining, distribution & marketing infrastructure, and advanced R&D facilities, IndianOil has provided energy access to millions of people across the length and breadth of the country through its ever-expanding network of customer touchpoints, currently numbering over 60,000.

The post IndianOil’s Parivartan-Prison to Pride Initiative Trains Inmates to Win Intercontinental Chess Championship appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: “Mental issues, instability, and stress among the young and old have increased a lot post the Covid-19 pandemic. Parents and teachers are repeatedly complaining about children’s increased restlessness, lack of sitting, and concentration in studies. In order to increase stability and attentiveness through a concept like chess therapy has become an absolute necessity” said Vivek Velankar, an education expert.

The concept of ‘chess therapy’ by Velankar Chess Institute was inaugurated by Vivek Velankar at Patrakar Sangh recently. Makarand Velankar, chess coach and director of Velankar Chess Institute, Prakash Kunte, father of Grandmaster Abhijit Kunte, and Sonam Thakur, chess coach, were present at the event.

While talking about the idea behind this activity, Makarand Velankar said, “Good mental health naturally draws positive effects on the other activities we do. It also helps in building confidence and hopes to succeed in an I-can-win attitude. Many parents say that children are stubborn, impulsive, and hyperactive. Due to the inability to sit for long, their intelligence is underutilized. Many children face nervousness, think negatively, and have depression. Because of the increased screen time and lack of determination, parents are really worried about their children being slow learners. Therefore, chess therapy can turn out to be beneficial for such issues.”

Makarand Velankar also said, “Along with this, chess therapy can also help in finding a way out of high work pressure. By practicing this game, one’s forgetful behavior can be kept away. Seniors can also highly benefit from chess therapy.”

Giving more details about the therapy, Sonam Thakur said, “This is not a therapy to create players but a focus on the personality development of the students. We have prepared a suitable plan for each student. This therapy is arranged in three steps as the course of three months. This period can also be extended if necessary.”

Thakur also mentioned that it is their aim to make every person chess literate. And through this game, they will also direct the students to work on their weaknesses.

Makarand Velankar, who introduced the idea of chess therapy, has been a chess coach, coordinator, and broadcaster for the last thirty years. He completed his M. Phil in “Good Impact of Chess on Children, family, and Society” and has created this special model of chess therapy from all these experiences. His colleague Sonam Thakur is a chess coach, state arbiter, and official coach of MCA’s ‘chess in school’ initiative.

The post Chess should be looked at as a therapy – Vivek Velankar appeared first on NRI News.

In Pool 2 of the team championship after round three, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation-A is leading with a maximum of six match points followed by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited-B, and Oil India Limited-A with four match points.

The tournament began with the team championship with overall 15 teams, which have been divided into two Groups – Pool 1 (7 teams) and Pool 2 (8 teams). The team championship, comprising a total of seven rounds, will be followed by a knockout format, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the knockout stage.

The individual championship will be held on March 11 and March 12.

There were some interesting encounters including some upset results on the first day when Grand Master MR Venkatesh of BPCL prevailed over Grandmaster Koneru Humpy of ONGC-A in the second round in a Four-Knights opening.

While in the third round, International Master VS Raahul stunned current sensation Grand Master R Praggnanandhaa of IOC-A in a sharp battle in the Nimzo-Indian defense, which was employed by Praggananandhaa.

The remaining four rounds in the League format will witness some intense fights on Thursday with the teams vying for a knockout berth.

Earlier in the morning, the tournament was inaugurated by Ajit Dhakras, Chief General Manager (Western Region), Indian Oil Corporation Limited in presence of international Cricketer Kedar Jadhav, Jasjeet Singh, Assistant Secretary PSPB, Niranjan Godbole, Secretary, Maharashtra Chess Association (MCA), Ashwin Trimal, Vice President, Pune District Chess Circle and Sarang Lagoo, Secretary PYC Hindu Gymkhana.

Grand Master Abhijit Kunte, Chief Manager (Sports), IOCL, welcomed all the players and dignitaries while Bhalchandra Joglekar, Deputy General Manager (Sports) IOCL, anchored the inaugural ceremony.

The post 32nd PSPB Inter-Unit Chess Tournament: MRPL, IOC-A in joint lead in Pool 1, ONGC-A tops Pool 2 appeared first on NRI News.

PUNE: Mr. S M Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, felicitated the six inmates from Yerawada Prison, Pune, who secured a Bronze medal for India at the recently concluded Intercontinental’ Chess for Freedom’ Online Championship for Prisoners, organized by World Chess Federation (FIDE). This was the first time the tournament witnessed the participation of Indian Prison Teams, who competed with more than 85 teams from 46 countries. The participating Indian teams were groomed and trained under IndianOil’s “Parivartan – Prison to Pride” initiative which is the brainchild of Mr. Vaidya. Under this outreach, IndianOil is facilitating training programs in various sports such as chess, basketball, badminton, volleyball, and carrom across prisons in India to help improve the physical and mental well-being of inmates. During the occasion, Mr. Vaidya felicitated Mr. Ketan Khaire, who played an instrumental role in imparting training to the jail inmates under the supervision of IndianOil. Mr. Vaidya also honored Mr. Shivshankar Patil, Superintendent of Yerwada Jail, and two other senior jail officials for supporting this unique cause.

Speaking on occasion, Mr. S M Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil, said, “The success of the brilliant Chess Team from Yerawada Jail reinforces our belief in the magical power of sports to inspire hope and optimism amidst the toughest challenges. We are committed to stewarding Parivartan forward and expanding the healing footprint of sports across our prisons”. Lauding the mental resilience of the inmates, Mr Vaidya said, “You don’t always have to make forward moves to win a game. Like chess, in life, too, you have to take a step back at times to move forward toward a better future.“

IndianOil, in association with the All India Chess Federation, selected the Indian teams for this Intercontinental Championship through the first ever “Parivartan– Prison to Pride Online Chess Tournament” in wherein 20 Indian prisons took part. Teams from Pune and Prayagraj Prisons booked their berth for the Championship, while the Women & Juvenile teams from Tihar Jail qualified in their respective categories.

Since its launch on 15th August 2021, IndianOil has covered 37 Prisons spanning 20 states and 5 Union Territories, coaching over 1750 inmates in three phases. Through this outreach, coaching facilities are being provided along with the equipment and kits to the participants. International-level sportspersons from IndianOil are supervising the program.

The post IndianOil felicitates International Bronze Winning appeared first on NRI News.