Mumbai: iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand, has announced the appointment of Vedang Vikas Chavan, a 25-year-old eSports coach and gamer from Mumbai, as its new Chief Gaming Officer (CGO). Vedang emerged victorious in the CGO 2.0 challenge—a nationwide hunt that drew over 80,000+ entries from 400+ cities and towns across India. As part of the role, he will take home INR 10 Lakh.
A former chess prodigy turned professional gamer and coach, Vedang’s journey in esports began at age 10. From sneaking into gaming cafés to competing internationally in PUBG PC tournaments across Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia, he has steadily risen through the ranks. As a coach, he helped grassroots teams achieve podium finishes at top-tier tournaments, mentoring young aspirants to become competitive gamers.
Expressing his excitement, 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.”
Vedang was selected by a jury that included Nipun Marya (CEO, iQOO), Rannvijay Singha, Payal Dhare (Payal Gaming), and Animesh Agarwal (8bit Thug). In his new role, Vedang will work closely with the iQOO leadership team to enhance gaming experiences, offer strategic inputs, and collaborate with top gamers across India.
Welcoming Vedang, Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, said, “This is yet another iconic moment for the Indian smartphone 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 gaming 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.”
In a move to further bolster its esports presence, iQOO has also appointed Harshvardhan Singh as its official caster. A three-time Nodwin Gaming Talent Hunt winner (including BGIS 2024), Harshvardhan brings multi-faceted expertise in casting, production, editing, and game analysis.
The second edition of iQOO’s CGO program builds on the success of its inaugural launch in 2023, which saw Shwetank Pandey appointed as the first Chief Gaming Officer. The initiative reflects iQOO’s long-term commitment to nurturing India’s gaming ecosystem, celebrating esports as a serious career path, and delivering cutting-edge smartphone performance for today’s digital natives.
