India Gets Permanent Esports World Cup Pathway via JioBLAST-Chess.com Tie-Up

India has secured a dedicated qualification route to the Esports World Cup (EWC) through a new initiative called India Rising. The program is a collaboration between JioBLAST, Chess.com, and the EWC Foundation, designed to build a sustainable pipeline of Indian esports talent. The initiative draws on India's strength in chess and its large gaming market to support long-term participation at the global level. Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi is set to use this pathway on Saturday, potentially becoming the fourth Indian to qualify for the EWC main event.