Kunal Upreti qualifies for Trackmania at Esports Nations Cup 2026

Kunal Upreti, known as Spark, has qualified for Trackmania at the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026 after winning the Asia regional qualifier, securing India’s sole spot in the title. The nation-based event is scheduled to run in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026, with the Trackmania competition set for November 19 to 22.

ENC 2026 Trackmania will feature 32 players competing for a USD 250,000 (~INR 2 crore) prize pool. The field includes 16 direct invites from the publisher-operated Trackmania Elite Cup Rankings, 14 regional qualifier winners from competitions across the Americas, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia, and Oceania, plus a Host Region Wildcard secured by Plink of the United Arab Emirates. One Solidarity Wildcard slot is set to be awarded later this year.

Upreti advanced from an Asia qualifier that featured 20 competitors and was run in two stages: a Time Attack seeding phase followed by a double-elimination Cup Mode playoff bracket. According to the release, Upreti entered the playoff stage with a direct seed based on his Trackmania Elite Cup ranking, then finished first in every playoff match, scoring 122 points in each of his first three rounds and 143 points in the Grand Final.

The qualification adds to a strong 2026 for the 22-year-old, who represents S8UL Esports. The release said Upreti recently qualified for the Trackmania event at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 after placing second in the Asia & Oceania qualifier, making him India’s sole Trackmania representative at both ENC 2026 and EWC 2026.

Speaking about the result, Upreti said, “The ENC qualification means a lot because it gives me another opportunity to represent India on the international stage. The Asia qualifier featured some very strong competitors, so I’m pleased with how I performed throughout the event. The level of competition at ENC 2026 will be incredibly high, but those are exactly the events every player wants to compete in. I’m excited for the challenge ahead and looking forward to testing myself against some of the strongest players in the world.”