Skyesports, a leading global IP builder in gaming and esports, has set the stage for a groundbreaking 2025 with the announcement of its esports roadmap for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). The Chennai-based company is bringing four international CS2 events to India, featuring a hefty cumulative prize pool of INR 14.68 Crore ($1.75 million). This significant investment underscores Skyesports’ commitment to developing globally recognized esports IPs from India.
Skyesports Announces 2025 Counter-Strike Esports Roadmap With A Total Prize Pool Of $1.75 Million
Shiva Nandy, the visionary Founder and CEO of Skyesports, shared his excitement: “Our vision since inception in 2018 was to create indigenous IPs and bring international players and teams to India. The 2025 CS2 esports roadmap is a testament to that as we will be hosting all four events in India, with global teams participating. These tournaments will not only strengthen Skyesports’ position as a global esports brand but also showcase India as a crucial market for world-class international esports events.”
The roadmap details the schedule and prize pools for each event:
- Skyesports Souvenir 2025: Feb. 17 to 23, 2025, with a prize pool of $250,000 (INR 2.09 Crore).
- Skyesports Masters 2025: May 26 to June 1, 2025, offering $500,000 (INR 4.12 Crore).
- Skyesports Championship 2025: Sept. 15 to 21, 2025, also featuring a $500,000 prize pool.
- Skyesports World Tour 2025: Nov. 10 to 16, 2025, with $500,000 up for grabs.
The Skyesports Masters, Championship, and World Tour 2025 are classified as Tier 1 events due to their substantial prize pools and the caliber of participating teams, according to Valve’s guidelines. These will be the first Tier 1 events hosted in India, highlighting the country’s growing importance in the global esports landscape.
Further enhancing the competitive spirit, these events will include Open Qualifiers, bridging grassroots esports athletes from India, Europe, North and South America, and the Rest of Asia. With a separate Open Qualifier for India, emerging esports athletes will have the opportunity to compete against top-tier international players.
Sudarshan S, Head of PC Esports at Skyesports, emphasized the importance of nurturing local talent: “Being an India-based esports company, we are able to ensure that local esports players are given a platform to showcase their skills and compete in the biggest CS2 events of the world. Additionally, we believe in the power of grassroots and that’s why we will be hosting open qualifiers across different regions globally.”
The global esports market is on an upward trajectory, projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2030, growing from $2.1 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 21.5%. Skyesports’ roadmap positions India as a formidable player in this booming industry. With 453.9 million gamers in India as of 2023, this number is expected to soar to 730.7 million by 2028, positioning the country as one of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally.
The ambitious 2025 roadmap not only reaffirms its dedication to the esports community but also sets a new benchmark for India’s role on the global esports stage.
