Hey Questers, 

After an epic three-month hunt that drew 80,000+ participants from 400+ Indian cities and towns, we finally have our CGO 2.0 winner – and it's none other than Vedang Vikas Chavan, @Vedzz a 25-year-old esports coach and gamer from Navi Mumbai! 🙌🏆

Vedang's journey is nothing short of inspiring. A chess prodigy in his early years, he discovered gaming at the age of 10 and was soon captivated by esports. From sneaking into gaming cafés during college to representing India at international PUBG PC tournaments in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, and Australia, Vedang's hustle never stopped. When he transitioned to coaching, he set out to give aspiring gamers a real shot at competitive esports – handpicking grassroots talent, building teams from scratch, and coaching them to podium finishes at top tournaments.

Through multiple rounds, Vedang was tested on gameplay skills, gaming knowledge, personality, and communication, impressing a power-packed jury featuring Nipun Marya, Rannvijay Singha, Payal Gaming (Payal Dhare), and 8bit Thug (Animesh Agarwal). And in the end, he clinched the title of iQOO Chief Gaming Officer 2.0, taking home a ₹10 Lakh prize and stepping into a unique role where he'll work closely with iQOO's leadership to enhance smartphone gaming experiences and strengthen ties with the esports ecosystem.

Vedang shared,“I'm genuinely overwhelmed and grateful to be named iQOO's new Chief Gaming Officer. When I first came across this opportunity on LinkedIn, I saw it as the perfect way to challenge myself, a chance to grow, upgrade my skills, and do something meaningful in the esports space. And the fact that it was coming from a brand like iQOO made it even more exciting. I knew I had to give it my all. I never imagined it would take me all the way here. The competition rounds were intense, and the finalists I met along the way were all incredibly talented. I'll never forget the video call with Nipun sir congratulating me, that's a moment I'll always treasure. This journey has been surreal, and I'm thankful to iQOO, the jury, and everyone who believed in me. I'm excited to now take this passion forward with iQOO and give back to the community that shaped me.”

Welcoming Vedang, Nipun Marya, CEO – iQOO, said,“This is yet another iconic moment for the Indian esports industry, and we are proud to welcome Vedang as our new Chief Gaming Officer. Vedang perfectly embodies the spirit of 'I Quest On and On'. His journey from grassroots gaming to leading top teams reflects the passion and perseverance we value at iQOO. With his experience as a player, coach, and mentor, we believe he will bring a sharper understanding of the gaming community and a fresh perspective to our esports initiatives. All of us at iQOO are excited to have him join the family, and we are confident he will make a meaningful impact in this role.”

But that's not all – we're also introducing Harshvardhan Singh as iQOO's official caster! A passionate storyteller and presenter, Harsh made his mark by winning the Nodwin Gaming Talent Hunt three times, including during BGIS 2024. Beyond the mic, he's skilled in production, match analysis, editing, and design – and will now serve as a strong voice for iQOO's gaming initiatives across platforms. 🎙️

The 2.0 edition of iQOO's Chief Gaming Officer hunt stands as a testament to iQOO's commitment to India's booming gaming ecosystem. After a successful debut in 2023 with CGO 1.0 (where Shwetank Pandey took the title), CGO 2.0 came back bigger than ever, drawing 80,000+ entries from 400+ towns and cities. More than just a talent hunt, this initiative reflects iQOO's vision to empower young gamers, celebrate esports as a serious pursuit, and deliver high-performance smartphone experiences to the community.

Questers, join us in congratulating Vedang and Harsh in the comments – and tell us, what's the very first thing YOU would do if you were iQOO's Chief Gaming Officer?

Happy Questing,

iQOO Connect

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