Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha has secured India’s second Chess slot for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 after topping the regional qualifier, completing the country’s two-player contingent alongside Grandmaster Nihal Sarin. The ENC 2026 Finals are set for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Chess scheduled from November 2 to 8, 2026.

ENC 2026 Chess will feature 128 players competing for a USD 600,000 (~INR 5.7 crore) prize pool. The format starts with a round-robin group stage across 16 groups of eight players, before 64 players advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket, culminating in the final on November 8.

According to the release, 64 of the 128 players received direct invitations via the official Champions Chess Tour (CCT) rankings, with representation spanning 64 countries and territories. Confirmed names include Magnus Carlsen, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Alireza Firouzja and Hikaru Nakamura. The field also includes Alexandra Kosteniuk and Mai Narva, described as the first women to officially qualify for the event. A further 61 players qualified through Chess.com-operated regional qualifiers, with three wildcard slots rounding out the field.

India’s second slot was determined through the Middle East, India, and Central Asia pathway, which began with an open nine-round Swiss event for verified titled players under a 10+0 rapid time control, followed by a double-elimination bracket. Guha finished the Swiss stage as the only unbeaten player (six wins, three draws), then defeated Syria’s Malek Koniahli and Iran’s Artin Ashraf in the upper bracket to clinch qualification.

Speaking about his qualification, Grandmaster Mitrabha Guha said, “The regional qualifier was challenging from start to finish. Chess has become an increasingly important part of the global esports ecosystem, and the Esports Nations Cup is a great reflection of that growth. The tournament will bring together some of the strongest players from around the world, so preparation will be key. Over the coming months, my focus will be on refining different aspects of my game and ensuring I am ready to perform at my highest level when the competition begins”

Beyond Chess, NODWIN Gaming, identified as India’s National Team Partner for ENC 2026, has announced national team rosters for DOTA 2, MOBA Legends: 5v5! and Rocket League, with regional qualifier windows listed as June 29-July 1 (DOTA 2), August 15-16 (MOBA Legends: 5v5!, if India misses a direct invite), and July 17-19 (Rocket League).

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The Esports Foundation (EF) has opened applications for its 2026 Creator Program, committing $2 million (~INR 19 crore) in rewards for co-streamers supporting the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris and the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 in Riyadh. EF announced the program on June 12, 2026, from Paris and Riyadh, and said applications are open now, including for creators across India.

EF said co-streaming was a key driver of EWC reach last year, citing 3,500 co-streamers as “one of the key growth pillars” for EWC viewership in 2025. The Foundation is positioning the 2026 Creator Program as a scaled-up initiative, targeting 5,000 creators “across new regions and platforms.”

“This isn’t just an esports trend; it’s a media trend,” said Wasae Imran, Director Broadcast & Distribution at the Esports Foundation. “Across music, video, news and sport, audiences don’t just watch what they’re given anymore. They choose their own experience: what to watch, where to focus, and how deep to go. Esports just lives further down that road than most, and traditional sport is heading the same way. It’s not about delivering a match in one format, it’s about opening up every way into the same moment and letting fans choose how they want to consume it. The Creators Program is how we build for that, by enabling the growth of creators that fans already trust to carry the world’s biggest esports event into every community.”

According to EF, approved creators can co-stream selected tournaments, complete missions, and progress a “Battle Pass” tied to rewards ranging from gift cards and hardware to platform perks and invitations to EWC and ENC. EF said the program supports multiple streaming platforms, including Twitch, YouTube, Bilibili, Huya, and CHZZK.

EF also confirmed operational details for EWC 2026: the event is set for Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from July 6 through August 23, featuring more than 2,000 players and 200 Clubs from over 100 countries across 25 tournaments and 24 games, with a $75 million+ prize pool. ENC 2026 is scheduled for November in Riyadh and will extend the creator program to a nation-based competition format.

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Himalayan Harmony Group (HHG) has announced its 2026 portfolio of Nepal online casino brands, introducing six platforms that operate under Curacao Gaming Licenses with native Nepali language interfaces and integrated local payment options through eSewa and Khalti.

The Kathmandu-based management entity oversees and partners with the following six online casino brands: 8MBets Online Casino Nepal, MJ88 Online Casino Nepal, NPR77 Online Casino Nepal, Magar33 Online Casino Nepal, eSewa12 Casino Nepal and AW33. All six brands fall under the Himalayan Harmony Group umbrella, each operating as a distinct platform while sharing a common foundation of Curacao licensing and features built specifically for Nepalese players.

“Our commitment is to provide Nepalese players with a secure, localized, and premium online gaming experience. Each brand in our portfolio features Nepali language interfaces and direct integration with eSewa and Khalti, ensuring our platforms match how players in Nepal prefer to engage and transact,” said a Himalayan Harmony Group spokesperson.

Curacao Gaming Licenses and Localised Infrastructure

Each of the six brands — 8MBets, MJ88, NPR77, Magar33, eSewa12 and AW33 — holds a Curacao Gaming License, providing players with a licensed and regulated environment for online gaming activity. Beyond licensing, the platforms are built with seamless Nepali language interfaces that allow players to navigate, register and play without language barriers, rather than relying on translated overlays from other markets.

Local Payment Integration Through eSewa and Khalti

A central feature of the portfolio is expert integration with eSewa and Khalti, two of Nepal’s most widely used digital payment gateways. Players across all six platforms can manage deposits and withdrawals through these familiar local methods, enabling secure account management without the need for international payment processors or currency conversion.

FIFA Betting Opportunities Across All Six Brands

With the 2026 portfolio timed alongside upcoming FIFA events, all six brands will offer betting options for FIFA matches. Players can place bets across 8MBets, MJ88, NPR77, Magar33, eSewa12 and AW33 for opportunities to win prizes during major international football tournaments.

A Portfolio Built for the Nepalese Market

The consolidated portfolio gives Nepalese players access to multiple distinct Nepal online casino platforms, each maintaining its own identity and interface. Whether players choose 8MBets, MJ88, NPR77, Magar33, eSewa12 or AW33, they benefit from the same Curacao-licensed framework, Nepali language support and local payment infrastructure managed by Himalayan Harmony Group.

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