The former Indian cricketer, Robin Uthappa is set to headline the first SOG Grandmasters Series’ South 1 Zonal Finals, an initiative of the Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF), which will take place on December 18-19 at the Sheraton Grand in Whitefield, Bengaluru.
Along with Uthappa’s star power and tremendous response to the online qualifiers for the southern zone championship, the competition will recognise outstanding skills, discover mind sports athletes, and encourage brilliance across the nation.
The first-ever SOG Grandmasters Series registrations demonstrated strong interest in all categories. Over 55,000 players registered for free online pre-qualifiers for Indian Rummy Grandmasters (IRG) and Indian Chess Masters (ICM), demonstrating their growing appeal as cognitive skill-based mind sports. The top 125 registered players who competed in the Online Qualifiers for IRG and ICM will go to Bangalore for the Zonal Finals. Furthermore, the Chess for the Blind tournament, hosted by the All India Chess Federation for the Blind (AICFB), served as a qualifier for the Indian Chess Masters for the Blind (ICMB), from which 16 top players were selected for the South Zonal Finals.
Mr. Shankar Aggarwal, President of SOGF, said, “Having Robin Uthappa, a World Cup-winning cricketer known for his resilience and mental strength, represent the SOG Grandmasters South Regional Finals is a powerful way to inspire the next generation of mind sports athletes. Robin’s story of overcoming challenges and excelling on the global stage will motivate participants to aim higher, with the dream of representing India. His presence bridges traditional sports and skill-based online games, helping to popularize these disciplines and encourage more players to step forward. The overwhelming response to the Grandmasters Series reflects India’s growing passion for skill-based sports, and we are committed to creating an inclusive platform that nurtures this talent and propels it onto the global stage.”
Uthappa is a great source of encouragement for young people, having been named the face of the SOG Grandmasters South Regional Finals. Uthappa demonstrates the virtues of attention, strategy, and tenacity that are crucial in skill-based gaming.
On the event, Uthappa said, “Mind sports are truly unique in how they celebrate cognitive skills. The SOG Grandmasters Series is a remarkable platform that highlights the power of strategy, focus, and mental resilience—qualities I deeply value both as a cricketer and as an advocate for mental well-being. This series not only showcases exceptional talent across India, but also nurtures the competitive spirit and creates new opportunities to unearth and spotlight talent in the mind sports arena. I’m excited to be part of this initiative and am eager to witness the next generation of champions rise from such an initiative.”
The South 1 Zonal Finals will be a LAN event featuring a ‘phygital’ experience, combining physical and digital mediums in one location. The Bengaluru tournament will be followed by Zonal finals in other zones, with the finalists (two from chess for men, two from chess for women, two from chess for the blind, and six from online rummy) participating in the Nationals in New Delhi in April 2025.
