The Collegiate Esports Commissioner’s Cup (CECC), a North American collegiate esports championship, has officially announced its global expansion with its first-ever international licensing partnership with Acceler Edtech Private Limited (AEPL), the parent company of Asymmetrical Learning.
As per the agreement, Asymmetrical Learning will partner with the Collegiate Sports Management Group (CSMG) to launch CECC India, which is going to be a new competitive ecosystem modeled after the U.S. version of CECC May Madness. The primary goal of this initiative is to allow Indian universities to develop esports programs and compete in national events, eventually boosting commercial and educational opportunities within the local growing esports industry.
Also read: Esports in India: A late arrival or the next global powerhouse?
In a statement, Michael Schreck, CEO of CSMG, said, “India has one of the fastest-growing esports and gaming communities in the world, and by bringing CECC May Madness to this market, we can help accelerate scholastic gaming opportunities for students while connecting brands, schools, and fans in new ways.”
CECC India’s first official event series is expected to debut in Spring 2026, but game titles will be announced in the coming months. Siddharth Rahalkar, founder and CEO of Asymmetrical Learning, highlighted that the timing of this partnership aligns perfectly with India’s new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which formally recognizes esports as a legitimate sport.
This landmark legislation not only bans unregulated real-money gaming but also opens the door to government incentives for esports infrastructure and training centers, which could potentially inject billions into the industry over the next decade.
As long as this partnership is underway, Asymmetrical Learning will oversee the development of local partnerships, sponsorships, and institutional engagement, while CSMG will provide licensing, marketing, event services, broadcast, and tournament operations.
India’s esports landscape is inarguably gaining global attention, with initiatives like JioBLAST’s national launch and the Skyesports–IICT academic alliance laying the groundwork for a new generation of players and industry leaders. CECC India is taking that momentum further by bringing a career-focused future for college esports in the country.
