The Indian esports community is growing rapidly, and with that growth comes some challenges. One of the biggest challenges facing the community is player poaching. Player poaching is the practice of contacting a player who is under contract with another organization, in an attempt to recruit them to your own organization.
Player poaching is illegal in most esports leagues, and it can have serious consequences for both the player and the organization that poaches them. In the Indian esports community, player poaching has been a problem for several years. In 2022, there were two high-profile cases of player poaching that made headlines.
In the first case, TSM India accused GodLike Esports of poaching their BGMI player, Arjun “Shadow” Mandhalkar. TSM India claimed that GodLike had contacted Shadow directly, without their permission. GodLike denied the allegations, but Shadow eventually left TSM India and joined GodLike Esports.
In the second case, Global Esports accused an unnamed organization of attempting to poach one of their Valorant players. Global Esports CEO Rushindra Sinha took to Twitter to express his frustration, and he called out the organization that attempted the poaching as “scums” in the industry.
These two cases of player poaching have highlighted the need for stronger anti-poaching measures in the Indian esports community. The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) has taken some steps to address the issue, but more needs to be done.
The ESFI has a code of conduct that prohibits player poaching, and it has also set up a grievance redressal mechanism for players who feel that they have been poached. However, these measures have not been enough to deter poachers.
In order to address the issue of player poaching, the ESFI needs to work with esports organizations to develop a more comprehensive anti-poaching policy. This policy should include clear definitions of what constitutes player poaching, and it should outline the consequences for organizations that engage in this practice.
The ESFI also needs to work with the government to strengthen the legal framework for esports in India. This would make it easier to prosecute poachers and to protect the rights of players.
Player poaching is a serious problem that is damaging the Indian esports community. By taking steps to address this issue, the ESFI can help to ensure that the Indian esports industry continues to grow and thrive.
In addition to the above, here are some other things that can be done to address the issue of player poaching in the Indian esports community:
- Players should be more aware of their rights and responsibilities under their contracts.
- Organizations should have clear policies in place for dealing with player poaching.
- The esports community should speak out against player poaching and hold organizations accountable for their actions.
By working together, we can create a more professional and ethical esports environment in India.
