Gaming
GIGABYTE and Skyesports launch Rs 125,000 Cafe League 2024 in five cities
Mumbai: GIGABYTE, a global leader in computer hardware, has tied up with Skyesports esports tournament organiser, to bring the GIGABYTE Cafe League 2024, a high-octane grassroots-level esports tournament, where players from five different cities can compete in their local gaming cafes for bragging rights and a share of the Rs 1,25,000 Prize Pool.
The GIGABYTE Cafe League 2024 will head to 5 different cities across India. In each city, players will have the chance to compete in an open-for-all Counter-Strike 2 tournament, featuring an Rs 25,000 Prize Pool. Registrations for the tournament are currently open. After registering, players can head over to the below-mentioned cafes to take part in this competition.
https://forms.gle/DzJv5DRgbJirbVndA
1 Kolkata (Fusion Max Cafe): Jan. 19 to 21
2 Mumbai (Next Level Gaming, Goregaon): Jan. 26 to 28
3 Nasik (Next Level Gaming, Yeolekar Mala): Feb. 2 to 4
4 Faridabad (The Cabal): Feb. 9 to 11
5 Pune (Rapid Rounds Gaming Cafe): Feb. 16 to 18
Additionally, each city in the GIGABYTE Cafe League 2024 will have a dedicated experience zone, offering players a chance to game on state-of-the-art GIGABYTE laptops like the GIGABYTE G5 MF and the AORUS 15 9KF.
Commenting on the exciting tournament, GIGABYTE India the Asst. general manager Supriya Gawde Mankame said, “GIGABYTE is thrilled to be a catalyst in the resurgence of the vibrant gaming cafe culture in India, especially as we witness the post-COVID-19 return to the heart of gaming – the local cafes. The GIGABYTE Cafe League 2024 is not just an esports tournament but also a celebration of the community in local gaming cafes across the country. At GIGABYTE, we believe in ‘Upgrading Your Life,’ and with this partnership, we are not just elevating esports; we are nurturing a cultural resurgence that goes hand-in-hand with the joy of gaming at your local cafe.”
Adding on the grassroots-level GIGABYTE Cafe League Skyesports head of global business partnerships Sashank Bhandaru said, “Gaming cafes present the core of the Indian PC gaming culture and we are thrilled to be partnering with GIGABYTE for the GIGABYTE Cafe League 2024, elevating esports from the grassroots while showcasing the cutting-edge GIGABYTE laptops directly to gamers. Additionally, as pioneers of the Counter-Strike 2 Esports ecosystem with our $1 million roadmap for the game in 2024, the association with GIGABYTE came as a natural partnership as we look to support more grassroots initiatives for the promising gaming title.”
In each city, the GIGABYTE Cafe League will happen over three days. In the first two days, the offline qualifiers will be held as the top local teams vie for a spot in the exciting Finale on Day 3. Finally, the top teams will convene on Day 3, which will be a live-streamed affair on the Skyesports YouTube channel, to determine the city champions.
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Gaming
IICT signs three MoUs to boost AVGC-XR and esports
Partnerships with Zenfluencers, Yologram and Eruditio at Chennai Gaming Show 2026 strengthen education, XR innovation and nationwide talent outreach.
MUMBAI: IICT has just levelled up the game in a big way. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies signed three strategic Memorandums of Understanding on 17 April 2026 at the CII Summit FX – India Gaming Show in Chennai, forging alliances with The Zenfluencers, Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. and Eruditio Consultants to accelerate India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
The tie-ups combine IICT’s strengths in education, skilling and research with specialist expertise across esports, immersive technologies and large-scale outreach.
- With The Zenfluencers, IICT will roll out globally benchmarked esports programmes, including joint certification courses, industry workshops, tournaments and masterclasses, creating clear career pathways across the full esports value chain.
- The partnership with Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. focuses on gaming, immersive storytelling and extended reality (XR), delivering industry-aligned curriculum, faculty mentorship, student showcases and collaborative research in immersive AI and virtual production.
- Collaboration with Eruditio Consultants targets awareness, accessibility and career alignment, with nationwide counsellor training, institutional engagement and structured guidance frameworks to reach students beyond Tier-1 cities.
IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar said, “As the AVGC-XR sector evolves at a rapid pace, strong collaborations between industry and academia are essential. These partnerships will create meaningful impact across education, innovation and outreach.”
Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. founder Aditya Mani added, “AI-driven creator worlds are transforming games into engines of culture, commerce and careers. Together we aim to empower a generation to build immersive futures.”
Eruditio Consultants founder Indrajit Ghosh noted, “This is not just about awareness, it is about building a structured ecosystem that connects aspiration with opportunity.”
The Zenfluencers CEO Atharva Gupta said, “This MoU is a big unlock moment for the esports ecosystem in India. We’re building a structured pipeline for talent across the full stack.”
By bringing together academia, industry leaders and ecosystem players, IICT is creating scalable models that blend cutting-edge skills with real-world relevance. In a sector racing toward the future, these three partnerships ensure India’s next generation of creative technologists won’t just keep up, they’ll set the pace.
