GrindZone
NOT BUSINESS IT'S PASSION
From India’s first mobile esports LAN to a nationwide shutdown and a grueling recovery — this is the story of how Free Fire MAX rebuilt its competitive legacy.
Free Fire esports in India officially kicked off with the Free Fire India Today League in Delhi on 12 October 2019. It was a milestone event that proved mobile battle royale could command a massive live audience.
The same year, India earned its first international slot at the Free Fire Asia Invitational, marking the start of India's presence on the global competitive stage.
The pandemic acted as a catalyst. With everyone indoors, Free Fire's accessibility on low-end devices led to an explosion in active players.
Garena launched the FF Championship Fall 2020 with a ₹50 Lakh prize pool. Despite the cancellation of the Spring LAN, the Free Fire Continental Series kept the momentum alive with three Indian squads competing internationally.
This was the "Golden Era." India saw nearly seven official tournaments in one year. The FFIC Spring 2021 offered ₹75 Lakhs, where Galaxy Racers and Team Elite emerged as icons.
By the end of 2021, the community witnessed the legendary KILLER FF last-second kill and the scene surpassed 100 Million cumulative views, firmly establishing itself as a rival to BGMI.
On 14 February 2022, the game was suddenly banned. Official tournaments halted, sponsors pulled out, and organizations dissolved their rosters.
The scene only survived through the sheer grit of community figures like Rocky Mamu (ROCKY) and RDX, who hosted grass-roots tournaments to keep the fire burning during two years of silence.
Garena returned with Free Fire MAX, launching the FFM India Championship (FFMIC) with a massive ₹1 Crore prize pool. Over 8 Lakh players registered for the open qualifiers.
Total Gaming Esports claimed the title in the first major LAN in five years. Later, GodLike Esports and NG Pro represented India at the Asia Invitational, proving that while the scene is still rebuilding, the talent is sharper than ever.