Mumbai, June 04, 2026: India Rising: Road to EWC, the esports and gaming initiative launched by JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation (EF) ahead of the Esports World Cup 2026, has announced a nationwide VALORANT competition as tactical shooter esports and competitive PC gaming continue to gain momentum in India.
The announcement comes amid rising momentum around tactical shooter esports and competitive PC gaming culture in India.
Hosted on JioGames, the competition will bring together amateur squads, rising competitive teams and players from across India through open online qualifiers leading up to the India Rising: Road to EWC Gaming Showmatches live in Mumbai. The tournament will follow a knockout format in Swift Play mode, with open qualifiers scheduled from June 12–16, followed by playoffs broadcasts on June 17th and 18th, before culminating in the Main event in Mumbai.
The top two teams from the Playoffs will then qualify for the India Rising: Road to EWC LAN Finals in Mumbai.
VALORANT’s rise in India has also been driven by its strong competitive and technical ecosystem. Dedicated Mumbai servers have enabled lower-latency gameplay for Indian players,
while optimization for mid-range PCs and its free-to-play structure have made the game more accessible to younger competitive gamers. Its mix of tactical gunplay, agent-based abilities and team strategy has helped establish VALORANT as one of the defining tactical shooter titles within modern esports.
Speaking on the announcement, Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST, said, “India’s PC esports landscape is becoming far more competitive and structured, particularly around tactical shooter titles where community engagement and spectator interest are growing rapidly. VALORANT has played a significant role in shaping that shift globally as well as in India. Through India Rising: Road to EWC, our focus is on creating a high-visibility competitive stage that can help strengthen the presence of Valorant as the leader of tactical shooter esports while giving emerging teams greater visibility within India’s evolving PC esports landscape.”
The title has also emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing spectator esports properties, driven by creator collaborations, community watch parties, college tournaments and rising engagement around livestreamed competitive matches and esports broadcasts.
The India Rising: Road to EWC LAN Finals in Mumbai will also feature creator interactions, live competitive gaming, and fan activities as part of a broader celebration of India’s rapidly evolving PC gaming, livestream and creator culture.
Official Trailer Launch Film Link: https://youtu.be/fAl2lnEuxaw
To learn more about EWC, visit esportsworldcup.com and follow Esports Foundation on LinkedIn. For updates on JioBLAST and India Rising, visit jioblast.com and follow India Rising on Instagram.
About JioBLAST
JioBLAST is a joint venture between BLAST, and RISE Worldwide Limited (a wholly owned RIL subsidiary), combining Jio’s digital ecosystem with BLAST’s global expertise in esports entertainment and RISE’s leadership in sports and event management. JioBLAST creates premium, youth-focused competitive entertainment formats designed to help players, fans, creators and partners connect through gaming and live experiences.
About Esports Foundation
The Esports Foundation (EF) is a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, dedicated to advancing and professionalizing the global esports industry. Through the annual Esports World Cup (EWC) and the biennial Esports Nations Cup (ENC), EF brings together the world’s top players, leading clubs, and millions of fans for the biggest stages in competitive gaming. Beyond hosting tournaments, the Foundation works year-round to grow the esports ecosystem, support talent development, and create lasting opportunities for players, teams, and partners worldwide.
About The Esports World Cup
The Esports World Cup (EWC) is a premier annual sporting event and global celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom. The competition features a unique cross-game
format that pits the world’s top esports Clubs against one another for the largest prize pool in esports history. Returning to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the summer of 2026, the EWC will bring gaming and esports communities together again to crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. esportsworldcup.com
