Highlights
- Tamil Nadu CM Trophy 2026 will feature six esports titles.
- Over 6K athletes competed this year, according to Skyesports founder and CEO, Shiva Nandy.
- Tamil Nadu continues to expand grassroots esports opportunities.
Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister’s Trophy Games 2026 will feature six esports titles. The competition will offer LAN qualification slots across mobile, PC, and PlayStation platforms.
Likewise, Skyesports founder and CEO, Shiva Nandy, reported that more than 6K athletes competed across these games in 2026, reflecting the state’s expanding esports ecosystem.
Tamil Nadu CM Trophy 2026: Games and Qualification Format
The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu’s official guidelines list BGMI, VALORANT, Pokémon UNITE, EA FC 25, NBA 2K26, and Street Fighter 6.
The LAN stage will accommodate:
- BGMI: 16 teams, four players, and one optional substitute.
- VALORANT: Four teams, five players, and one optional substitute.
- Pokémon UNITE: Four teams, five players, and one optional substitute.
- EA FC 25: Eight individual players.
- NBA 2K26: Four individual players.
- Street Fighter 6: Four individual players.
BGMI and Pokémon UNITE will use mobile platforms, VALORANT will run on PC, and the remaining titles will be played on PlayStation 5 (PS5).
Qualifiers for the three console titles will take place at designated locations in Chennai and other cities, depending on registrations. Meanwhile, BGMI, VALORANT, and Pokémon UNITE qualifiers will be online.
Participants can register for multiple games but qualify for a maximum of two titles in the grand finals. Finalists will receive food and accommodation as well.
Grassroots Esports Development Across India
Nandy stated that esports entered the competition as a “demonstration event” three years ago before becoming a medal event with cash incentives. He also identified Oct 20, 2026, and Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium for the next edition. However, the official guidelines say the finals venue will be communicated later.
Tamil Nadu’s efforts form part of a broader state-level push.
Karnataka supports gaming through its 2024-2029 AVGC-XR policy, while Maharashtra is partnering with the Indian Game Publishers and Developers Association (IGPDA) to promote domestic game development. Rajasthan, Nagaland, Bihar, Telangana, and Kerala have also pursued esports or gaming development initiatives.
These efforts complement India’s 2025 online gaming legislation, which promotes esports while prohibiting online money games.
