India’s esports governing body, the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), has launched the National Esports Championship 2025 (NESC25). This event will serve as the official national qualifier to select India’s team for the upcoming 17th World Esports Championship (WEC), an international tournament organised by the International Esports Federation (IESF) with support from the Asian Esports Federation (AESF). Alongside this national selection process, ESFI has also finalised the roster that will represent India at the imminent BRICS Esports Championship 2025.

NESC 2025: India’s Path to the World Esports Championship

The primary purpose of the National Esports Championship 2025 (NESC25) is to identify and select India’s official esports contingent for the prestigious 17th World Esports Championship. Winners emerging from the NESC25 qualifiers will earn the right to represent the nation on the global stage at the WEC. The championship features online qualifiers for two prominent esports titles: Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and DOTA 2. Additionally, the champion of the 2024 eFootball NESC has received a direct entry into the WEC, a move acknowledging their consistent performance, even though eFootball was reportedly not included in last year’s WEC event.

Registrations for the NESC25 online qualifiers for DOTA 2 and CS2 are open until May 19, 2025. Matches are scheduled to begin online on May 22 and will be streamed live on ESFI’s official YouTube channel, allowing fans across India to follow and support their favourite teams and players from home. The tournament for these qualifiers will follow a double-elimination format, a structure designed to provide participants with a second chance before elimination, aiming for fair and intense competition to identify the top talent.

ESFI Director Lokesh Suji provided insights into the significance of NESC25 and its impact on India’s esports landscape. As reported by iGaming Times, Suji emphasised the importance of building on India’s recent achievements, such as the historic gold medal victories at the WAVES Esports Championship, stating that these results have established that Indian athletes can perform successfully on the international stage. Suji expressed that with NESC25, ESFI aims to build on that momentum and increase India’s global influence. He outlined ESFI’s clear vision, as reported by iGaming Times, “to establish India as an esports superpower through systematic pathways, high-performance platforms, and regular global representation.”

India’s Roster for the BRICS Esports Championship 2025

In addition to preparing for the World Esports Championship, ESFI has also finalised the Indian roster that will compete in the BRICS Esports Championship 2025. This multi-nation tournament is organised as part of Russia’s sports calendar and is set to take place at the VK Play Arena in Moscow from May 28 to June 3. The championship will feature top teams and players from countries including China, UAE, South Africa, and Russia, with India competing against elite talent from these BRICS nations and beyond.

India demonstrated its potential in the previous edition of the BRICS Esports Championship, having secured a silver medal. With enhanced preparation and experience, the 2025 squad is aiming to compete for the gold medal this time around. The selection process for the BRICS roster in Tekken 8 involved a fierce double-elimination qualifier with 60 players nationwide, reportedly part of the NESC 2025 qualifiers. Gurashish “Soul” Singh emerged victorious from this qualifier, and Shubham Khorwal finished closely behind, with both athletes selected to represent India in Tekken 8 at the BRICS event.

Selected players for the BRICS Championship have expressed their goals and determination. Gurashish “Soul” Singh shared, as reported by iGaming Times, that his victory at NESC 2025 (referring to the Tekken 8 qualifier) marks his first major tournament win after achieving strong placements in other events. He stated, as reported by iGaming Times, that this is “just the beginning” as he prepares to represent his country at the BRICS Esports Championship and will continue trying his best. Shubham Khorwal, who finished fourth in the previous BRICS edition, is determined to secure a podium finish in 2025. He noted, as reported by iGaming Times, that as he prepares for the upcoming championship, every session is about pushing his limits, taking the responsibility of representing India on an international stage seriously, and aiming for the podium this time.

ESFI’s Role in Developing Indian Esports Talent

ESFI plays a broader role in fostering the growth and presence of Indian esports talent on the global stage. The federation has significantly elevated India’s participation in international esports competitions, citing past involvement in events such as the Asian Games in both 2018 and 2022, and the Commonwealth Esports Championship in 2022. ESFI’s membership in global governing bodies like IESF, AESF, and the Global Esports Federation (GEF) provides valuable global partnerships that offer more opportunities and recognition for Indian talent. Beyond organising and facilitating participation in tournaments, ESFI is reportedly actively building comprehensive ecosystems that include training programmes, mentoring, and exposure opportunities designed to provide aspiring athletes with the support they need to develop and succeed.

In conclusion, ESFI’s launch of the National Esports Championship 2025 signifies the formal commencement of India’s selection process for the World Esports Championship, while the finalisation of the BRICS Esports Championship roster highlights the nation’s immediate focus on international competition. These initiatives, combined with ESFI’s broader efforts in talent development, global partnerships, and building supportive ecosystems, underscore India’s strategic ambition to build on recent successes and strengthen its position as a competitive force in the global esports arena through structured pathways and consistent international representation.