Tamil Nadu Announces Chennai Esports Global Championship—India’s Biggest State-Backed Esports Event

In a major win for Indian esports, the Tamil Nadu Government has unveiled plans for the Chennai Esports Global Championship (CeGC)—a first-of-its-kind state-organized global esports tournament. 

Set to take place later this year in Chennai, the event aims to attract top teams from around the world and put Tamil Nadu on the map as a hub for competitive gaming.

Big Investment, Bigger Ambitions

While the full list of esports titles and tournament details is still under wraps, one thing is clear: Tamil Nadu is going all-in on esports. 

The event is backed by a massive ₹562 crore budget ($ around $7 million) allocated by the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department for 2025-2026. A portion of these funds will go directly toward making CeGC a world-class esports spectacle.

This isn’t Tamil Nadu’s first esports initiative either. Earlier this year, the state hosted the CM's Trophy 2024, organized by Skyesports, featuring multiple game titles and over 5,000 players competing across the state. Now, with CeGC, Tamil Nadu is stepping onto the global stage—offering Indian players a chance to go head-to-head with international talent.

That said, it's not all smooth sailing. Tamil Nadu's recent law regarding the 2025 online gaming does bring some interesting regulations into play. It sets age limits for real-money games, requires KYC verification through Aadhaar, enforces "blank hours" from midnight to 5 AM, and includes important addiction warnings. This has sparked a debate within the industry, with some even taking the matter to court.

Esports Gains Official Recognition in India

The timing of this announcement couldn’t be better. Esports is finally being recognized as a legitimate sport in India, with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports recently including it in the cash incentive program for athletes. 

On the global front, esports has secured its place as a medal event at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, with plans for its Olympics Esports debut in 2027.