The Tamil Nadu Indian state government has announced the Chennai Esports Global Championship (CeGC). Said to be an international multi-title tournament, it’s scheduled later this year in the South Indian city. The game titles for the event haven’t been announced yet.
Image Credits: Godlike Esports
The CeGC will receive a portion of Tamil Nadu’s ₹562 crore for the 2025-2026 budget, which is to be overseen by the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department. The action is reflective of the state’s efforts towards establishing an infrastructure that can host world-class esports competitions and meet the presence of international talent.
Tamil Nadu’s entry into the world of esports in India is not new. The state has already taken significant steps towards digital sporting activities, such as the successful CM’s Trophy 2024, which engaged over 5,000 local players. Conducted by Skyesports, the event involved more than 5,000 domestic players and provided a platform to set up large, international events.
Previous domestic tournaments and government-sponsored events have also played a role in the growth of a healthy environment for esports in the region.
The CeGC arrives when esports is increasingly being recognized as a serious sport nationally and globally. The recent actions by the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to include esports in its cash reward scheme, coupled with the declaration of esports as a medal sport at the Commonwealth and Asian Games, have also given further credence to the competitive gaming sector.
Industry experts consider Tamil Nadu’s new initiative to be a continuation of a larger change in India’s strategy for digital sports with the goal of developing indigenous talent and incorporating esports into the conventional sports ecosystem.
As the CeGC is poised to expand on previous efforts and leverage the increasing momentum of esports, industry leaders predict that Chennai will follow soon as a city hosting premium global digital sports events.
As tournament details, including the roster of game titles and precise match structures, are completed, the event should provide local as well as global communities with a window into the changing future of competitive gaming.
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