India's Esports Teams Gear Up for Nations Cup 2026 in Riyadh
NODWIN Gaming Announces Esports Roster for Nations Cup
NODWIN Gaming, serving as India's National Team Partner for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has unveiled the country's Rocket League roster. Additionally, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has secured direct qualification for chess at this inaugural global nation-based esports event, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026.
Nihal Sarin's Chess Qualification
Nihal is the sole Indian player to achieve direct qualification for the ENC 2026 main event via the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) Leaderboard. The Rocket League team, comprising Abhai Ponna (Abscrazy), Karthik Raghunandan (Karvin), Aditeya Srivastav (Riyal), and substitute Jayanth Engineer (Orjanguse), will participate in regional qualifiers to vie for a spot in the main event.
Chess Competition Details
The chess segment of ENC 2026 will feature elite players competing in a country-based format from November 2 to 8. A total of 128 players will compete for a prize pool of USD 600,000 (approximately INR 5.7 crore). The tournament will begin with a round-robin group stage, followed by a single-elimination playoff for the top 64 players.
Nihal Sarin's Journey to the ENC
Nihal's successful campaign during the CCT 2025-2026 season included participation in the Speed Chess Championship (SCC) 2025 and the Chess.com Open (CCO) 2026. Although he narrowly missed direct qualification through the CCO 2026, he earned 100 vital leaderboard points and finished with a total of 139 points, placing him among the top six players in the ENC Chess rankings.
Regional Qualifiers and Wildcard Slots
In addition to directly invited players, 61 competitors will qualify through regional qualifiers managed by Chess.com. India's qualifiers are scheduled for June 6-7 and June 13-14, with three additional players qualifying via wildcard slots. Each country can have up to two representatives in the finals.
Nihal Sarin on His Qualification
Nihal, representing esports powerhouse S8UL, previously participated in the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025 and has now qualified for the upcoming EWC edition. He expressed excitement about representing India at the ENC, highlighting the rapid growth of chess in the esports landscape.
India's Rocket League Team Composition
The Rocket League roster features a blend of seasoned players and emerging talents, coached by Nirjhar Mitra (jocse). Abscrazy, a prominent player, has previously represented India at the FIFAe Nations League 2026 and has won several titles. Karvin and Riyal are recognized as rising stars, while Orjanguse has shown consistent performance in the RLCS ecosystem.
Abhai Ponna's Perspective
Abhai Ponna emphasized the significance of the Esports Nations Cup for Indian players, stating that it provides a platform to showcase their skills on an international stage. He noted the team's strong chemistry and their focus on securing a place in the main event.
Rocket League Competition Format
The Rocket League segment at ENC 2026 will feature 48 national teams in 3v3 matches, with a prize pool of USD 1.32 million (around INR 12.5 crore). The competition will commence with a round-robin group stage, followed by a single-elimination playoff bracket.
Qualification Process for Rocket League
Twenty-four teams have already received direct invitations to the ENC 2026 Finals based on the official ENC Rankings. Teams ranked outside the top 24 will participate in online regional qualifiers from July 17 to 19, with India competing in the Asia qualifiers.