The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) and Upthrust Esports organized the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2024, which started on March 15, 2024. The main objective of the event is to select the Indian representatives for the 15th World Esports Championships (WEC), which will take place in Iasi, Romania. The NESC is a highly regarded tournament that will be conducted online and will feature 275 athletes competing in four different esports titles, namely CS:GO, Dota 2, Tekken 7, and eFootball 2024.
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Esports Titles and WEC 2024
In May and June, the Asia Regionals will feature the qualified teams from CS:GO and Dota 2, while the champions of Tekken 7 and eFootball 2024 will bypass this stage and earn direct qualification to the global finals of the tournament. With a staggering prize pool of $500,000 (INR 4.12 crore), the WEC 2024 is poised to become the largest edition of the tournament ever, with the participation of at least 130 countries. The highly anticipated global finals of this prestigious tournament are scheduled to take place from August 24 to September 4, 2024.
Women’s Qualifiers in CS:GO
For the first time in history, the country’s top female CS:GO athletes will battle it out in the NESC to secure their berth at WEC 2024. The open qualifiers of CS:GO will have 21 teams (127 athletes) competing, while the women’s qualifiers will see the participation of two teams (11 athletes). For Dota 2, six teams (33 athletes) will compete, while for single-player titles such as Tekken 7 and eFootball 2024, 72 and 32 competitors, respectively, will participate.
Streaming Platforms
The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals of the NESC 2024 will be streamed live on ESFI’s YouTube, Facebook, and Glance Gaming channels, allowing Esports enthusiasts to catch all the enthralling action from the comfort of their homes.
Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, one of the country’s top sports and esports communication agencies, will continue to support the Esports Federation of India as their official communication partner.
NESC 2024 is a crucial event for IGC
The eSports industry has witnessed a meteoric rise in recent years, with India emerging as one of the fastest-growing eSports markets in the world. The industry is projected to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% between 2021 and 2026, and the increasing popularity of Esports among youth has caught the attention of global Esports giants, including Tencent, Google, and Amazon.
The NESC 2024 is a crucial event for the Indian eSports community, as it presents an opportunity for local talent to showcase their skills and represent the country at the global level. The tournament provides a platform for aspiring eSports athletes to hone their skills, gain exposure, and compete with the best in the world.
Moreover, the inclusion of women’s qualifiers for CS:GO is a significant step towards promoting gender equality in eSports. Women have traditionally been underrepresented in the eSports industry, and initiatives such as these can go a long way in breaking down gender barriers and encouraging women to participate in eSports.
