India’s premier esports tournament organizer, Skyesports, is collaborating with The Indonesian Embassy of New Delhi to host an esports showmatch at the India Gaming Show, celebrating the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Indonesia in 2024. The 6th India Gaming Show 2024, an international gaming, animation, and infotainment event organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is scheduled to take place from March 14 to 16 in Pune, India.
CNBC reported that this showmatch, part of the Skyesports Grand Slam, will feature a showdown between top teams from India and Indonesia in the popular PC game, Counter-Strike 2. This event not only celebrates the longstanding diplomatic ties between the two nations but also highlights the significance of esports in fostering international connections.
Indonesia, with over 180 million gamers, and India, boasting an impressive 421 million gamers primarily aged between 16 and 64 years old, present vast gaming communities. This collaboration presents an opportunity for both countries to promote their gaming industries and explore avenues for further collaboration.
A spokesperson from the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi expressed appreciation for the collaboration. He said, “We highly appreciate the collaboration between The Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi with Skyesports in the Skyesports Grand Slam, as this is also an opportunity to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and India by doing people-to-people contact activities.”
Various activities are planned, including an exhibition game between teams from Indonesia and India, a panel discussion with stakeholders from both countries as speakers, and promoting Indonesian local games through an Indonesia Pavilion at the Exhibition showcasing the potential for the Indian market.
Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, expressed about hosting the India – Indonesia showmatch at the India Gaming Show 2024 in Pune. He stated, “As the esports industry continues to soar globally, this collaborative initiative celebrates the longstanding diplomatic ties between India and Indonesia and underscores the immense potential of esports as a platform for cultural exchange and international cooperation.”
The India – Indonesia Showmatch will be part of the Skyesports Grand Slam, an international esports tournament within the India Gaming Show 2024. Alongside the showmatch, four elite teams – one from India, one from Australia, and two from Europe – will vie for the championship title and a share of the impressive $50,000 prize pool.