However, with so many events, it can be quite difficult to keep track of what's going on.
Similar to last year, we’ve compiled a list of tournaments that we expect will steal the local esports limelight in 2018.
North East Championship
Expected Dates: February – March 2018
Location: LAN qualifiers and Main Event in the North East Region
Game Titles: Clash Royale, FIFA 18, Dota 2
Previous Prize Pool : N/A
Prize Pool Announced: INR 5,00,000.
The North East Championship is a first of a kind event which presents a huge opportunity for the North-East Indian Gamers who have been long underrepresented in the Indian esports scene. Many are eager to see how this type of ‘closed-qualifier’ event pans out. Perhaps it’ll open the door for more such regional events.
More Details: HERE
KO Fight Nights
Expected Dates: August 2018
Expected Location: LAN qualifiers in several cities with the Finals in New Delhi
Expected Game Titles: Street Fighter V
Expected Prize Pool: INR 75,000.
KO Fight Nights was one of the most successful casual tournaments of 2017, which gave the winner Bhagwant Singh ‘B3’ Bagh, an opportunity to compete in ‘The Brooklyn Beatdown’ held in New York, USA. Where he went toe-to-toe against some of the best Street Fighter players in the world.
More Details: HERE
NGS Championship 2018
Expected Location: LAN qualifiers in several cities with the main event in Mumbai
Expected Game Titles: CS:GO, Dota 2, Paladins, Rocket League, FIFA
Previous Prize Pool : N/A
Prize Pool Announced: INR 50,00,000
The Indian eSports Championship was by far the most prestigious competitive gaming event that the city of Mumbai witnessed in 2016. In addition to a humongous prize pool and action-packed online qualifiers, the main event played host to a variety of music and pop culture attractions such as a flash mob, popular DJs such as lost stories and more.
We were disappointed when the tournament didn’t return in 2017. However Neon Gaming Studios are now back with a bang and we are all hyped up for it.
More Details: HERE
ESL India Premiership 2018
Expected Dates: May through December
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN events in Bangalore, Delhi and more
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO, Rocket League, Clash Royale, Just Dance
Previous Prize Pool : INR 64,00,000
Prize Pool Announced: INR 1,00,00,000
The ESL India Premiership has been the event around which the Indian esports calendar has been built for the past couple of years. After 2 seasons of incredibly positive feedback courtesy top-notch production value among other things, the return of the tournament does not come as a surprise. What is a pleasant surprise however is the fact that the total prize pool for the tournament has crossed the INR 1 crore mark, making this the first announced Indian esports tournament with a prize pool to cross that amount.
More Details: HERE
COBX Masters 2018
Expected Dates: Phase 1 – April to June 2018, Phase 2 - TBA
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN Qualifier finals in several cities, main event in India
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO
Previous Prize Pool : N/A
Prize Pool Announced: INR 1,00,00,000
Well COBX promised us a huge tournament and they’ve delivered. With a whopping INR 1 Crore prizepool, they’ve announced their re-entry into the Indian esports in style with an SEA tournament on home turf. It is also one of the few tournaments which promises international exposure to the local scene, with plans to host the main event here in India, bringing in international players from across the world. This is COBX's second tournament after they conducted the Cobx Indian Esports Championship earlier in 2017 with a prize pool of INR 10,00,000.
More Details: HERE
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN Qualifier finals in several cities, main event in India
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO
Previous Prize Pool : N/A
Prize Pool Announced: INR 1,00,00,000
Well COBX promised us a huge tournament and they’ve delivered. With a whopping INR 1 Crore prizepool, they’ve announced their re-entry into the Indian esports in style with an SEA tournament on home turf. It is also one of the few tournaments which promises international exposure to the local scene, with plans to host the main event here in India, bringing in international players from across the world. This is COBX's second tournament after they conducted the Cobx Indian Esports Championship earlier in 2017 with a prize pool of INR 10,00,000.
More Details: HERE
U Cypher Season 2
Expected Dates: Unknown
Expected Location: Unknown.
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO, Tekken 7 and Real Cricket
Previous Prize Pool: Approx INR 51,00,000
U Cypher has more or less confirmed a 2nd Season via their social media accounts, even while the 1st Season is still being broadcast on television. While no additional information is available about the second season at this time, we're expecting a change in format for the show.
More Details: HERE
Expected Location: Unknown.
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO, Tekken 7 and Real Cricket
Previous Prize Pool: Approx INR 51,00,000
U Cypher has more or less confirmed a 2nd Season via their social media accounts, even while the 1st Season is still being broadcast on television. While no additional information is available about the second season at this time, we're expecting a change in format for the show.
More Details: HERE
Unconfirmed:
Dew Arena 3.0
Expected Dates: July through September
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN group stages, LAN Main Event in Gurugram, New Delhi.
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO
Previous Prize Pool: INR 20,00,000
Mountain Dew’s Dew Arena has always been one of the best tournaments in terms of production value. They are really one of the few tournaments that manage to push the boundaries every year. For Dew Arena 2.0 Mountain Dew India created an arena unlike what we've seen in Indian esports before. Dew Arena 2.0 became the first ever Indian esports tournament to be broadcast live on television. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year.
More Details: HERE
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN group stages, LAN Main Event in Gurugram, New Delhi.
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2, CS GO
Previous Prize Pool: INR 20,00,000
Mountain Dew’s Dew Arena has always been one of the best tournaments in terms of production value. They are really one of the few tournaments that manage to push the boundaries every year. For Dew Arena 2.0 Mountain Dew India created an arena unlike what we've seen in Indian esports before. Dew Arena 2.0 became the first ever Indian esports tournament to be broadcast live on television. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for this year.
More Details: HERE
Taiwan Excellence Cup
Expected Dates: Mid November
Expected Location: Countrywide LAN qualifiers with a LAN finale in Mumbai
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2 and CS GO
Previous Prize Pool: INR 10,00,000
The Taiwan Excellence Cup series has been one of the longest running, and most prestigious tournaments India has to offer. Last year’s tournament was the fourth installment in as many years. The finale usually takes place, dab smack in the middle of one of Mumbai’s busiest shopping malls. Fans and attendees can expect a dedicated spectator area, plenty of contests / giveaways and a full-fledged live production of the on-going matches.
More Details: HERE
Expected Location: Countrywide LAN qualifiers with a LAN finale in Mumbai
Expected Game Titles: Dota 2 and CS GO
Previous Prize Pool: INR 10,00,000
The Taiwan Excellence Cup series has been one of the longest running, and most prestigious tournaments India has to offer. Last year’s tournament was the fourth installment in as many years. The finale usually takes place, dab smack in the middle of one of Mumbai’s busiest shopping malls. Fans and attendees can expect a dedicated spectator area, plenty of contests / giveaways and a full-fledged live production of the on-going matches.
More Details: HERE
Legends Cup
Expected Dates: Unknown
Expected Location: Unknown.
Expected Game Titles: Not Dota2/CS:GO
Previous Prize Pool: Not Applicable
While we don’t have any details on the rumored ‘Legends Cup’, we can say that this tournament will be targeting a completely new player base which will bring in some much-needed variety to the Indian Esports scene.
Expected Location: Unknown.
Expected Game Titles: Not Dota2/CS:GO
Previous Prize Pool: Not Applicable
While we don’t have any details on the rumored ‘Legends Cup’, we can say that this tournament will be targeting a completely new player base which will bring in some much-needed variety to the Indian Esports scene.
Zowie Extremesland 2018
Expected Dates: July - August
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN qualifiers in India, main event in Shanghai – China.
Expected Game Titles: CS GO
Previous Prize Pool: India Qualifier winners received a paid trip to the main event. Main event prize pool was USD 100,000 / INR 67,00,000.
The ZOWIE eXTREMESLAND CS GO tournament is a chance for Indian Counter Strike teams to test their mettle against Asia’s best. It’s one of those rare events that guarantees the victors of the India qualifier a trip abroad to compete at the main event. Entity Gaming represented India last year however they were knocked out by B.O.O.T – dream[s]cape after claiming a grueling 1st round victory against Mineski.
More Details: HERE
Expected Location: Online qualifiers, LAN qualifiers in India, main event in Shanghai – China.
Expected Game Titles: CS GO
Previous Prize Pool: India Qualifier winners received a paid trip to the main event. Main event prize pool was USD 100,000 / INR 67,00,000.
The ZOWIE eXTREMESLAND CS GO tournament is a chance for Indian Counter Strike teams to test their mettle against Asia’s best. It’s one of those rare events that guarantees the victors of the India qualifier a trip abroad to compete at the main event. Entity Gaming represented India last year however they were knocked out by B.O.O.T – dream[s]cape after claiming a grueling 1st round victory against Mineski.
More Details: HERE
ASUS ROG Masters 2018
Expected Dates : November
Expected Location : Online qualifiers, LAN qualifiers in India, main event in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.
Expected Game Titles : Dota 2 and CS GO
Previous Prize Pool : Regional qualifier winners received a paid trip to the main event plus INR 5,00,000.
Unlike 2016’s event, the ROG Masters 2017 promised a guaranteed international trip for the main event for the winners of the South Asian Finals. Signify won the 2017 edition and flew all the way to Manila to compete in the APAC Regional Finals where they, unfortunately, lost to the eventual winners 496 Gaming
More Details: HERE
Expected Location : Online qualifiers, LAN qualifiers in India, main event in Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.
Expected Game Titles : Dota 2 and CS GO
Previous Prize Pool : Regional qualifier winners received a paid trip to the main event plus INR 5,00,000.
Unlike 2016’s event, the ROG Masters 2017 promised a guaranteed international trip for the main event for the winners of the South Asian Finals. Signify won the 2017 edition and flew all the way to Manila to compete in the APAC Regional Finals where they, unfortunately, lost to the eventual winners 496 Gaming
More Details: HERE