The Esports Foundation (EF) and JioBLAST have announced a strategic partnership to launch 'India Rising: Road to EWC', a national competition aimed at creating a pathway for Indian players to participate in the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) in Riyadh. This initiative will feature nationwide open qualifiers for chess, culminating in a grand finals held in Mumbai. The event is expected to attract over 10,000 grassroots players, with all titled Indian players invited to a closed qualifier section. The festival will provide an immersive experience, combining the chess finals with creator programming and entertainment. The chess segment of the EWC will offer a $1.5 million prize pool, expanding from last year's inaugural event won by Magnus Carlsen (Team Liquid). With India's gaming market rapidly growing, projected to surpass 500 million players by 2026, this partnership aims to establish a credible pathway for Indian gamers to reach global platforms.