NODWIN Gaming Named Official National Team Partner for Esports Nations Cup 2026
NODWIN Gaming Takes the Lead for India's Esports Representation
Riyadh [Saudi Arabia], March 27: The Esports Foundation (EF) has announced the appointment of NODWIN Gaming as the official National Team Partner for India in the upcoming Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC). This global esports competition is set to take place in Riyadh from November 2 to 29, 2026.
This partnership underscores NODWIN Gaming's significant contributions to India's esports landscape over the past decade, which includes organizing national tournaments, managing publisher-led circuits, and fostering connections among players, creators, and industry partners.
As the National Team Partner, NODWIN Gaming will lead the formation of the Indian esports team, engage grassroots and competitive communities, provide support to coaches across various games, and collaborate with publishers, clubs, and other stakeholders to create pathways for Indian players to shine on the international stage.
Nimish Raut, Global Head of Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects at NODWIN Gaming, expressed, “The Esports Nations Cup signifies a pivotal change in the global competitive gaming landscape. For India, this presents an extraordinary opportunity. We boast one of the largest and most enthusiastic gaming communities worldwide, yet until now, there has been no unified route for players to represent our nation globally. As the National Team Partner, we aim to build this structure from the ground up, discover and nurture talent across various titles, and foster a high-performance environment for Indian players to compete at elite levels. We are eager to collaborate with the EF to unlock the next phase of growth for Indian esports and lay a sustainable foundation for the future.”
NODWIN Gaming joins a global network of National Team Partners from over 100 nations, as part of the ENC's partnership-driven model for national team development. The Esports Foundation received more than 630 applications from 150 countries, highlighting the immense global interest in nation-based esports. The complete list of National Team Partners can be found on the ENC website and will be updated as more appointments are confirmed.
The Esports Nations Cup aims to establish a structured global framework for national teams, adding a new dimension to the esports ecosystem alongside club competitions. It is designed to enhance existing structures by collaborating with local stakeholders to strengthen connections, promote participation, and support long-term national development.
Hans Jagnow, Director of Special Projects at The Esports Foundation, remarked, “India is home to a vibrant esports fanbase, rapidly emerging as a significant player on the global esports scene. NODWIN Gaming has been instrumental in shaping the Indian community, and we believe they are the perfect choice to unite the ENC National Team for India and instill national pride among players competing in Riyadh.”
Last year, NODWIN Gaming partnered with the EWCF to oversee media rights sales in South Asia for the Esports World Cup and collaborated with Chess.com and ChessBase India to advance chess esports in India, aligning with chess's inclusion in the inaugural ENC. With a robust foundation in community engagement, content creation, and large-scale event management, NODWIN is well-equipped to enhance talent development, fan interaction, and international competitiveness as part of ENC 2026.
ENC 2026 is supported by a total investment of $45 million (approximately INR 414 crore), which includes $20 million (around INR 184 crore) allocated for player and coach prize money across 16 titles, $5 million (approximately INR 46 crore) for club incentives, and $20 million (around INR 184 crore) dedicated to national team development.
The tournament will implement a placement-based prize structure with equal payouts across all titles, where the first-place team will receive $50,000 (approximately INR 46 lakh) per player, second place will earn $30,000 (around INR 28 lakh), and third place will get $15,000 (approximately INR 14 lakh), with payouts scaling for team-based titles.
Games featured in the tournament include Chess, PUBG Mobile, Rocket League, DOTA 2, VALORANT, Counter-Strike 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Fatal Fury, League of Legends, Trackmania, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, EA SPORTS FC 26, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Honour of Kings, and Apex Legends.
The ENC will kick off in Riyadh in November 2026 before transitioning to a rotating city model. This biennial event complements the annual Club-based Esports World Cup (EWC), providing a stable framework for players and ensuring long-term investment in national team programs.