Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has secured a direct invitation to the Chess event at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, while India’s Rocket League roster has also been announced. The country’s representation at the global esports competition, scheduled from November 2 to 29, 2026, in Riyadh, was confirmed by NODWIN Gaming, India’s National Team Partner.

Nihal Sarin Qualifies Directly for ENC 2026 Chess

Nihal Sarin earned his direct qualification for the ENC 2026 Chess main event through the official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) Leaderboard rankings. He is the sole Indian player to receive a direct invitation via this pathway. The Chess tournament is set to take place from November 2 to 8 in Riyadh, featuring 128 players competing for a prize pool of USD 600,000 (approximately INR 5.7 crore).

The tournament format includes an initial round-robin group stage with 16 groups of eight players, followed by a 64-player single-elimination playoff bracket. Sarin is among 64 players receiving direct invitations based on CCT rankings, with each country or territory limited to one direct invite. Other notable direct qualifiers include Norway’s Magnus Carlsen, the United States’ Hikaru Nakamura, and France’s Alireza Firouzja.

Sarin’s consistent performance throughout the CCT 2025-2026 season, which encompassed the Speed Chess Championship (SCC) 2025, Chess.com Open (CCO) 2026, and the Titled Tuesday Grand Prix (TTGP) circuit, solidified his position. He accumulated 139 leaderboard points, placing him among the top six in the official ENC Chess rankings. Additional qualifiers for the 61 remaining spots will proceed through regional tournaments, including India’s qualifiers on June 6-7 and June 13-14, overseen by Chess.com. Three wildcard slots will complete the roster. Each country can field up to two players at the finals.

Grandmaster Nihal Sarin expressed anticipation for the event. “Playing at the Esports World Cup last year gave me first-hand experience of how rapidly Chess is growing within the global esports ecosystem,” Sarin stated. “The Esports Nations Cup 2026 brings a different kind of excitement because of the opportunity to represent India in a country-based format. Competing under the national flag against some of the world’s strongest players makes this a very special event.”

India’s Rocket League Team Revealed, Prepares for Qualifiers

India’s Rocket League contingent comprises Abhai Ponna (Abscrazy), Karthik Raghunandan (Karvin), Aditeya Srivastav (Riyal), and substitute player Jayanth Engineer (Orjanguse). The team will compete in the regional qualifiers from July 17-19, aiming to secure a berth at the main event in Riyadh. The squad is coached by Nirjhar Mitra, known as “jocse,” who was appointed by NODWIN Gaming to oversee player identification, strategy, and team development.

Abscrazy brings international experience, having represented India at the FIFAe Nations League 2026 and competed in the Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS) 2021-22 Spring Split Major. Karvin and Riyal are recognized talents within India’s competitive Rocket League scene, having previously teamed with Abscrazy, which is expected to provide the lineup with established chemistry for the qualifiers. Orjanguse has consistently performed in the RLCS ecosystem, recently securing a top-four finish alongside Abscrazy and Karvin at FIFAe Nations League Week 1.

Abhai Ponna highlighted the significance of the upcoming competition. “The Esports Nations Cup 2026 is a significant opportunity for Rocket League players in India because events like these give us the chance to represent the country on one of the biggest international stages in esports,” Abscrazy commented. “Our immediate focus is on the regional qualifiers and making sure we secure India’s place at the main event in Riyadh.”

The Rocket League tournament at ENC 2026 will feature 48 national teams in 3v3 matches, with a prize pool of USD 1.32 million (approximately INR 12.5 crore). Matches will run from November 2-8 in Riyadh. The competition structure includes a round-robin group stage with eight groups of six teams, followed by a 16-team single-elimination playoff bracket.

Twenty-four rosters have already received direct invitations to the ENC 2026 Finals through official ENC Rankings, which track player performances in RLCS events. Teams outside the top 24 will contend in online regional qualifiers. India will participate in the Asia qualifiers, where three countries will advance to the main event. Further details on all ENC 2026 Rocket League rosters are available on the official [Esports Nations Cup 2026](https://esportsnationscup.com/) website.

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