ESPL 2021: Seven state ministers unveil franchise teams

The country’s first-ever franchise-based esports league, the Esports Premier League (ESPL) has finalised the top eight teams, as the ultimate face off in the inaugural edition of the nation-wide esports league is set to begin on August 16. State ministers from seven regions launched their respective franchise team names, logos, and jerseys.

While the esports industry has been in quest to gain legitimacy and recognition from the government, involvement and acceptance from the government at this level to the tournament is a giant stride for esports industry in India.

“To have the best gamers from across the country representing final eight franchise teams as well as their team’s official jersey being unveiled by the state ministers is a matter of absolute honour and pride. Even in its inaugural edition, ESPL has received exceptional response from the esports community, the players and the audience,” said Vishwalok Nath, Director, ESPL.

The final eight franchises teams and the players were chosen through a draft process. And the teams that are qualified through various stages of the competition for the draft process include BADGE99, Total Gaming, 4 UNKNOWN, TSM FTX, No Chance, AFF Esports, Head Hunters, and TWO SIDE GAMERS. Each of these teams were picked to represent a city team and in the final stage during the draft, popular influencers and esports gamers were roped in to conduct the process.

The eight franchise teams are Punjab Paladins, Chennai Celestials, Delhi Dukes, Hyderabad Hydras, Kolkata Kaijus, Rajasthan Reapers, Mumbai Marshals, and Bangalore Ballistics.

ESPL 2021, which began on June 16, will see the athletes competing in the popular battle royale game Free Fire as the winners will have Rs 25 lacs prize money to win.

This final phase has lot more in store and a spectacle series of matches and exciting live-action will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar, Free Fire official streaming platform Booyah and Malayalam OTT platform Koode alongside official YouTube and Facebook channels of India Today and AajTak and its websites.

Here is the complete list of Ministers and personalities that unveiled teams representing their respective states:

V. Srinivas Goud, Minister of Sports and Youth Services, Telangana
Sunil Chhatrapal Kedar, Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare, Maharashtra
Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister, Delhi
Manoj Tiwary, Minister of Department of Youth Services and Sports, West Bengal
K.C. Narayana Gowda, Minister of Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports Department of Planning, Karnataka
Ashok Chandna, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Rajasthan
Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Punjab