Gaming
Esports Nations Cup 2026 unveils first eight titles
Chess, CS2 and mobile hits headline global, flag-based debut
RIYADH: Riyadh is gearing up for a new kind of esports showdown, one where players will not just represent teams or brands, but entire nations. The Esports World Cup Foundation has revealed the first eight titles for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, set to run from 2 to 29 November in the Saudi capital.
The event introduces a national team format to the global esports calendar, giving players the chance to compete under their country’s flag while fans rally behind familiar colours rather than corporate logos.
The first wave of games offers a broad spread across genres and platforms. The confirmed titles are Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, EA Sports FC, Fatal Fury, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Trackmania. Together, they span classic strategy, tactical shooters, fighting games, sports simulations, mobile arenas and high-speed racing.
Even with just these eight titles, the scale is significant. Thousands of players worldwide will enter qualification routes over the coming months, all chasing a place in Riyadh.
Chess will host 128 players, making it one of the largest international events in the game’s history. Counter-Strike 2 is set for a record-breaking open qualification programme, expected to involve more than 15,000 players across 3,000 teams. Dota 2 will feature 32 national sides battling through rankings, regional qualifiers and wildcard slots.
EA Sports FC will also see 128 competitors qualify through in-game pathways, regional contests and world rankings. The new Fatal Fury title will bring 32 national representatives into a fresh format aimed at spotlighting rising talent in the fighting game scene.
Mobile titles will carry serious weight too. Honor of Kings will feature 24 elite national teams, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will host 32 sides competing for a gold medal. Trackmania rounds out the list with a 32-player national field racing in the game’s signature four-way Cup Mode.
Eight more titles are still to be announced, completing the 16-game programme for the debut edition.
With national pride now entering the digital arena, the Esports Nations Cup aims to turn keyboards, controllers and touchscreens into a new kind of flag-bearing sport.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
