Which Esports Titles Debut at Khelo India Youth Games 2025?

For the first time ever, esports will be featured at the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG).

This milestone event is taking place in Bihar from May 4 to 14, with the esports competitions scheduled for May 6 to 7 at the Patliputra Sports Complex.

The esports demonstration event will showcase popular games across different platforms. Players will compete in Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball (on both mobile phones and consoles).

BGMI, a localized version of PUBG Mobile tailored for the Indian market, is a battle royale game developed by Krafton. Players compete in squads, duos, or solo modes, parachuting onto a map to scavenge for weapons and resources while surviving against up to 100 opponents. Its inclusion in the KIYG as a demonstration esport highlights its massive popularity among Indian youth, with millions of active players.

The addition of Chess to the lineup is particularly significant. Chess, traditionally played on boards, has found a new home in the digital world of esports. The game has gained such prominence that it's now included in the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, which offers an impressive prize pool of USD 1.5 million (about Rs 12.6 crore).

Street Fighter 6, a 1v1 fighting game, typically uses a double-elimination or single-elimination bracket format in esports tournaments. Players select characters and compete in best-of-three or best-of-five matches, with each round lasting 60-99 seconds.

eFootball, a soccer simulation, is expected to feature a 1v1 competitive format where players control their teams in real-time matches, typically lasting 10-15 minutes.

Before hosting the KIYG 2025, Bihar had already embraced competitive gaming by organizing events such as the Bihar State Esports Open Championship and the Bihar Inter School and College Esports Championship.

Looking ahead, Esports will be an official medal event at the 2026 Asian Games, and the first Olympic Esports Games is scheduled to debut in 2027.