India’s male CS:GO team is set to make their mark in the world of esports as they gear up to compete in the Asian Qualifiers for the 15th World Esports Championships (WEC). The LAN qualifiers, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from July 13 to 17, will see prominent teams from Asia battle it out for a chance to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament.
The Indian CS:GO team, led by captain Harsh Ranjeet Jain (f1redup), consists of talented players including Mohammed Sadab Khan (SKwow), Nikhil Hiraman Kathe (N1kace), Jaspreet Singh (SpanwN), Piyush Dharampal Kalwania (clouda), and substitute Omkar Thube (omkar09). Placed in Group A, the team will commence their campaign by facing tough opponents such as Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia on the opening day, followed by a match against Iran on the second day.
The group stage matches will be played in a best-of-one format, while the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and grand finals will be contested in a best-of-three format. Out of the ten participating teams, only six will qualify for the 15th WEC. The champions will claim a prize pool of $7,000, with the second and third-placed teams receiving $3,500 and $2,000, respectively.
Expressing his confidence ahead of the qualifiers, team captain Harsh Jain stated, “I have full faith in our collective talent, dedication, and strategic prowess. We are ready to face any team from the continent and showcase our skills. Our goal is not only to qualify for the grand finals in Romania but also to leave a mark on the global stage and bring pride to our country.”
The Indian CS:GO team has already shown their mettle by emerging victorious in the National Esports Championships (NESC) 2023, organized by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI). They defeated the two-time NESC champions, Team Wicked Gaming, in the finals. Subsequently, the team advanced to the South Asian qualifiers, where they dominated Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and arch-rivals Pakistan to secure their place in the Asian Qualifiers.
Mr. Vinod Tiwari, President of the Esports Federation of India, expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, saying, “The team’s domination in the South Asian qualifiers is a testament to the players’ commitment and talent. We have full confidence in their abilities to replicate their successful performances against the leading Asian teams.”
As the team sets its sights on the 15th WEC, support from various partners and organizations is crucial. Artsmith-Concepts & Visions, one of the country’s top sports and esports communication agencies, will continue to serve as the official communication partner of the Esports Federation of India. Additionally, Hama, FITGMR, Mandeha, Upthrust, and Inox will contribute as training, coaching, psychology, execution, and multiplex partners.
India’s participation in the 15th WEC extends beyond CS:GO, as the country’s DOTA 2 team has already begun their LAN qualifiers, and the female CS:GO team is set to kick off their Asian qualifiers on July 15. Notably, Indian esports athletes Abhinav Tejan in Tekken 7 and Ibrahim Gulrez in eFootball have already secured their qualification for the grand event.
With a staggering prize pool of $500,000 (INR 4.12 crore) and participation from over 130 countries in eFootball, DOTA 2, Tekken 7, Mobile Legends, PUBG: Mobile, and CS:GO, the 15th WEC promises to be the largest edition of the tournament to date.
As the Indian male CS:GO team strives to secure their spot in the WEC, their journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring gamers and a testament to the immense talent India possesses in esports.
Also Read: How To Download and Play FreeFire Advance Server 2023
