India Launches National Esports Championship 2025 for Dota 2 Selection

Registration Now Open for NESC 2025

The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has announced the commencement of registrations for the National Esports Championship (NESC) 2025. This tournament serves as the national qualifier to select India's Dota 2 student team for the upcoming OXY-2025, which will take place in Samara, Russia, this October.

OXY-2025 is recognized globally as one of the premier student esports events, featuring teams from nearly 50 countries across five continents, according to a press release from the ESFI.

The championship boasts a substantial prize pool of 5.5 million Russian Rubles (around Rs 55 lakhs), with the top teams receiving awards of 2,000,000 RUR for first place, 1,250,000 RUR for second, 750,000 RUR for third, 500,000 RUR for fourth, and 125,000 RUR for teams finishing fifth to eighth.

This edition will include 16 teams, with one team representing the host nation, Russia, and the remaining 15 qualifying through regional divisions. Dota 2 will be the featured game for this tournament.

Registrations for NESC 2025 are currently open and will close on August 2, 2025. The qualifier matches are set to commence on August 8 and will be held in both online and physical formats.

Participants must be aged between 16 and 25 as of January 1, 2025. The tournament is open to students enrolled in any recognized educational institution in India, whether full-time, part-time, or through correspondence, as well as Indian students studying abroad, regardless of gender.

The Indian team will qualify through the South Asia Division, which is expected to conclude by August 31, 2025.

Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India, remarked, “NESC 2025 offers a remarkable chance for Indian student athletes to gain international exposure. OXY-2025 is not only one of the largest student esports tournaments globally but also one of the most prestigious, with significant rewards.”

He added, “ESFI is currently managing qualifiers for the U-18 Team India selection for the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, and we are thrilled to extend this opportunity to university students as well. We anticipate robust participation from colleges and universities across India.”

OXY-2025 is expected to attract teams from a diverse array of countries, including the USA, Brazil, China, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Serbia, Vietnam, and many others, representing regions such as South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Americas, MENA, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Notable participants include Guatemala, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Namibia, and Ethiopia. India will join this international lineup through the NESC 2025 qualifiers.

Now in its fourth year, OXY is organized annually by the Russian Esports Federation and aims to foster global student participation in structured esports. With increasing institutional backing for competitive gaming in India, the Esports Federation of India expects a strong turnout for the 2025 qualifiers.