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7 state ministers unveil franchise teams for Esports Premier League 2021, the final leg of ESPL to kickstart on August 16

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India’s first-ever franchise-based Esports league, the Esports Premier League (ESPL) has finalised the top eight teams as the ultimate face off in the inaugural edition of the nation-wide Esports league is set to begin on August 16. State ministers from seven regions launched their respective franchise team names, logos, and jerseys.

While the Esports industry has been in quest to gain legitimacy and recognition from the government, involvement and acceptance from the government at this level to the tournament is a giant stride for Esports industry in India.

“To have the best gamers from across the country representing final eight franchise teams as well as their team’s official jersey being unveiled by the state ministers is a matter of absolute honor and pride. Even in its inaugural edition, ESPL has received exceptional response from the Esports community, the players and the audience,” said Mr. Vishwalok Nath, Director, ESPL.

Here is the complete list of Ministers and personalities that unveiled teams representing their respective states:

  • Mr. V. Srinivas Goud

Hon’ble Minister of Sports & Youth Services

Govt. Of Telangana

 

  • Mr. Sunil Chhatrapal Kedar

Hon’ble Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare

Govt. of Maharashtra

 

  • Mr. Manish Sisodia

Deputy Chief Minister

Govt. of Delhi

 

  • Mr. Manoj Tiwary

Hon’ble Minister of Department of Youth Services and Sports

Govt. Of West Bengal

 

  • Mr. K.C. Narayana Gowda

Hon’ble Minister of Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports Department of Planning

Govt. of Karnataka

 

  • Mr. Ashok Chandna

Hon’ble Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs (Independent charge)

Govt. of Rajasthan

 

  • Mr. Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi

Hon’ble Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs
Govt. of Punjab

  • RJ Balaji

Radio jockey, director, sports broadcaster, and writer based out of Chennai

 

The final eight franchises teams and the players were chosen through a draft process. And the teams that are qualified through various stages of the competition for the draft process include BADGE99, Total Gaming, 4 UNKNOWN, TSM FTX, No Chance, AFF Esports, Head Hunters, and TWO SIDE GAMERS. Each of these teams were picked to represent a city team and in the final stage during the draft, popular influencers and Esports gamers were roped in to conduct the process.

The eight franchise teams are Punjab Paladins, Chennai Celestials, Delhi Dukes, Hyderabad Hydras, Kolkata Kaijus, Rajasthan Reapers, Mumbai Marshals, and Bangalore Ballistics. Below is the complete list of players of all these teams who will represent the respective state teams:

BADGEE99 will represent Kolkata Kaijus

 

Ø  Hriteek Ranjan

Ø  Muhammed Faizal. N

Ø  Prahast Garg

Ø  Azmal Akhtar Choudhury

Ø  Yogesh Buchale

 

 

Total Gaming will represent Hyderabad Hydras

 

Ø  Ajay Sharma

Ø  Vora Hetkumar

Ø  Daksh Garg

Ø  Narai Yadav

Ø  Anshul Rawat

4 UNKNOWN will represent Rajasthan Reapers

 

Ø  Swastik Madhukar Dushing

Ø  Anand Madhukar Dushing

Ø  Radhe Thakor

Ø  Vadehr Anil Devashibhai

Ø  Mohd Zuber

 

AFF Esports will represent Delhi Dukes

 

Ø  Owais Bhati

Ø  Kanishk Verma

Ø  Rahil Katoch

Ø  Pavan Adwani

Ø  Arpit Tyagi

 

TWO SIDE GAMERS will represent Bengaluru  Ballistics

 

Ø  Ritik Jain

Ø  Ojasvi Kamra

Ø  Vihan Datta

Ø  Bhavesh Lakhwani

No Chance will represent Chennai Celestials

 

Ø  Priyansh

Ø  Devesh Chauhan

Ø  Aritra Adak

Ø  Priyanshu Kumar

Ø  Soumya Sundar

 

TSM FTX will represent Mumbai Marshals

 

Ø  Sagar Patel

Ø  Indranil Saha

Ø  Jayesh Yadav

Ø  Naitik Khosto

Ø  Asjad Khateeb

 

Head Hunters will represent Punjab Paladins

 

Ø  Satyam Thakur

Ø  Md. Abdul Moghni

Ø  Aasim Usama

Ø  Jatin Taneja

Ø  Priyanshu Halder Saha

ESPL 2021, which began on June 16, will see the athletes competing in the popular battle royale game Free Fire as the winners will have INR 25 lacs prize money to win.

This final phase has lot more in store and a spectacle series of matches and exciting live-action will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar, Free Fire official streaming platform Booyah and Malayalam OTT platform Koode alongside official YouTube and Facebook channels of India Today and Aaj Tak and its websites.

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Football Legends Ronaldo and Kaká to Face Off in EA FC for Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch

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The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced that football icons Ronaldo Nazário and Kaká will go head-to-head in the Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch on August 9, 2025. Taking place during the EWC 2025 EA FC game week, live on stage in the STC Arena of the EWC Festival in Riyadh, the Showmatch blends elite football legacy with competitive gaming in a crossover moment that celebrates the rise of esports as a global sport.

The 2025 edition builds on the success of last year’s Showmatch debut ft. Neymar Jr. and Team Falcons’ Mossad “Msdossary” Al-Dossary. That foundation now returns on a bigger scale, as the Esports World Cup 2025 continues to blur the lines between sporting legacy and digital competition. The format is being elevated into a best-of-three digital derby featuring EA SPORTS FC 25 competition. With Cristiano Ronaldo recently named Global Ambassador of the EWC 2025, the Showmatch embodies the tournament’s commitment to bridging traditional sport and esports on a global stage.

“Ronaldo and Kaká embody competitive excellence and legacy, drawing passionate support from fans around the world – everything great sport aspires to achieve,” said Mike McCabe, COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Their presence at the Esports World Cup reflects values that connect traditional sport and gaming, showing how those worlds are coming together in ways that truly resonate with fans. Bringing together legends who inspire multiple generations and communities is what makes this Showmatch truly special. We’re honoured to have them with us on this stage, especially during football week.”

Adding to the spectacle, Ronaldo and Kaká are also scheduled to appear on EWC Spotlight, the tournament’s premium broadcast series, offering insight into their role in the future of global sport and entertainment.

The match will feature a bespoke creative set-up inspired by Brazilian street football, old-school collectible cards, and graffiti art, incorporating EWC 2025 elements in a nostalgic yet modern expression of sport, elite esports competition, and fandom. Dedicated cheering sections, post-match Q&As, and exclusive fan rewards will ensure that attendees and viewers are fully immersed in the experience.

Celebrating football week at EWC 2025, the Showmatch and EA SPORTS FC Pro World Championship are joined by the Kings League MENA Presentation on August 10th, marking the competition’s regional debut. Founded by Gerard Piqué, the fast-paced, seven-a-side competition, which blends football with fan-led rules and digital interactivity, kicks off its MENA expansion at EWC 2025. At the event, Piqué will unveil team names, logos, and club presidents, including top regional creators.

The EWC Showmatch 2025 and Kings League MENA Presentation are some of the headline entertainment experiences of this summer’s EWC, the world’s largest esports event, hosted in Riyadh through to August 24, 2025. The tournament’s unique cross-game format brings together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs, competing across 25 tournaments in 24 games for a life-changing $70m+ prize pool.

This year, icons Magnus Carlsen and Cristiano Ronaldo join the Esports World Cup as Global Ambassadors, bringing their competitive legacy and global reach to the world’s biggest esports stage. Carlsen, the reigning chess champion, also competes in the inaugural EWC Chess Tournament (July 29–31).

The post Football Legends Ronaldo and Kaká to Face Off in EA FC for Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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2025 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship Details, Format, and Map Changes Revealed at Esports World Cup

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James Yang, Senior Director of Global Esports at Level Infinite, has shared a number of exciting reveals for the future of PUBG MOBILE Esports. Among this news is the official plan for the second half of the 2025 competitive season, including further information on the format and changes coming to the prestigious PUBG MOBILE Global Championship (PMGC) at the end of the year. These changes are set to amplify the excitement at the final major competition in this year’s circuit, allowing more opportunities for teams to make it to number one.

As the final tournament of the annual PUBG MOBILE Esports circuit, the 2025 PMGC is the most anticipated event of the year, with professional teams vying for their chance to etch their name in esports history as the ultimate Champions of the PUBG MOBILE year. For this reason, the best teams across the world are invited to take their shot at victory. This year sees the introduction of the Gauntlet Stage to the tournament — an initial stage where the 16 best teams from each region are selected for an initial chance to go straight to the Grand Finals, with six slots up for grabs.

In order to qualify for the Gauntlet Stage, teams must be placed within the top two or three spots in the regional 2025 PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL) Fall Rankings, but this is not the only opportunity to enter the tournament. The bottom 10 ranked teams from the Gauntlet will enter the Group Stage, alongside 22 teams from across the globe. These 22 teams are made up of the top-scoring teams from every region, with the combined 32 teams facing off in two groups for a further four qualifying slots per group.

The final two slots are made up of the overall winner of the host-region invite slot and the winner of the Last Chance stage, where the teams ranked 5th-12th from the Group Stage will get one more shot at qualifying for the Grand Finals.

Many other changes were announced as PUBG MOBILE Esports seeks to close the gap between professional play and the wider player experience. Kicking this off, Rondo is replacing Sanhok in the official map rotation from the 2025 PMSL Fall Season, and with it comes a myriad of impactful changes. To begin, the Recall System makes a return to the competitive formula, allowing eliminated players to rejoin the battle should their teammates safely secure their tag. Sentry Guards and drops will also be introduced in keeping with the original Rondo experience and the Blue Zone speed will remain the same. However, the iconic map stores will not be available, meaning players will have to scavenge for gear just as they do in other maps.

With the action-heavy updates revealed, PUBG MOBILE Esports has also highlighted some of the best moments across the various tournaments to date. This involves a look at the skill of standout performances, key historical moments, and also recognising amazing examples of how gaming can connect people across the globe.

Beginning with the former, following two years of persistence, Indonesia’s GluSquad Esports made their mark on the game, qualifying for the PMSL SEA for the first time, earning widespread support for their fresh energy in the summer season. Waves were also made in Africa, as Memoitho made history becoming the first woman in PUBG MOBILE Esports to reach the Top 3 in the 2025 PUBG MOBILE Africa Cup (PMAC) Kenya Solo Competition. Then to Nepal, where Horaa Esports celebrated their qualification in the 2025 PMWC, marking their debut entry into a major global tournament.

Alongside these great stories are many heartwarming highlights from over the years, such as Team Nile’s own 11011Enemy, who defied the odds while managing mobility issues from sickle cell disease, securing MVP in a crucial match, and going on to represent Nigeria in Saudi Arabia. In a similar vein, a community of gamers with disabilities from Turkey were brought together by PUBG MOBILE, growing into a 50 person group of supportive players across the country. PUBG MOBILE is also celebrating the love and support shown by pro players’ families. Earlier this year, the father of Regnum Carya Esports’ Sylas celebrated his son’s success at the 2025 PUBG MOBILE Global Open (PMGO). Then at the 2025 PMWC, the father of POWR Esports’ Alhaje cheered on his son from the crowd as the weekend unfolded. With this, both of these proud fathers proved their place as their sons’ number one fans. Last but not least, fans will remember how football star Richarlison met his partner through their mutual love for PUBG MOBILE Esports.

With a plethora of significant updates to the tournament formula, the reintroduction of impactful features, and many more stories to be made, PUBG MOBILE Esports fans have plenty to look forward to for the rest of the year and beyond.

The post 2025 PUBG MOBILE Global Championship Details, Format, and Map Changes Revealed at Esports World Cup appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Magnus Carlsen Claims Inaugural Chess at 2025 Esports World Cup Title as Two Grand Masters Clashed on the World Stage

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Magnus Carlsen has claimed the inaugural Chess at 2025 Esports World Cup title, beating out Alireza Firouzja in a thrilling final series.

Representing Team Liquid, Magnus Carlsen was able to secure a straight 2-0 series victory against Team Falcons’ French star Alireza Firouzja. The Norwegian grandmaster entered Chess at EWC 25 as the favourite, and it was clear to see why. As for his Team Falcons opponent, Firouzja, while he had moments of brilliance, the gulf in class between the two in this series showed.

The world number-one swept the Team Falcons representative in sensational style with a straight sets victory that reaffirmed his status as one of the all-time greats. Carlsen took the first set 3-1, before dominating the second set 3-1 once again to secure a 2-0 series victory.

Magnus Carlsen’s win sees Team Liquid claim their first victory at the 2025 Esports World Cup. The victory continues a great year thus far for Magnus Carlsen, who won Chess.com’s 2025 Champions Chess Tour to qualify for the EWC, as well as his seventh Norway Chess title and the 2025 Grenke Chess Freestyle Open with a perfect 9/9 score.

“I am very happy, a little bit relieved as well. There was a point in the second set where I felt I let him back in the match for no reason. Overall, I’m happy with the way I played and the way I pressured him on the clock. A couple of times I rushed a little bit, but that comes with everything,” said Carlsen.

“I think it’s been incredible. Not only playing, but watching the others. It’s been an amazing show, unlike anything I’ve seen so far. It’s just been a joy. I hope this is a big part of the future of chess. I’m really thankful to EWC for believing in Chess, for Team Liquid for believing in me as well, and for making Team Falcons have to fight at least a little bit for the Club Championship,” he said.

The post Magnus Carlsen Claims Inaugural Chess at 2025 Esports World Cup Title as Two Grand Masters Clashed on the World Stage appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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