NFCC has been successful in negating the taboo around fantasy games, says BalleBaazi CEO Saurabh Chopra

The
NFCC’s
free-to-play
concept
challenges
fans
to
show
their
skill,
and
aims
at
changing
the
perception
about
the
Online
Fantasy
Sports
industry
from
being
“just
about
money”
to
“all
about
glory.”

The
23-day
long
multi-tier
tournament
is
being
hosted
by
BalleBaazi.com.
The
grand
finale
will
be
held
on
the
same
day
as
the
final
T20
World
Cup
match,
November
14,
where
11
Fantasy
Cricket
Champions
will
be
crowned
who
will
meet
the
World
Cup
2011
hero,
Zaheer
Khan.
The
ones
to
finish
the
podium
will
receive
a
championship
trophy
and
also
a
free
trip
to
the
Home
of
Cricket,
the
Lord’s.

Saurabh
Chopra,
Co-Founder
&
CEO
of
BalleBaazi.com
spoke
with

MyKhel
about
the
concept
and
the
expectations
from
NFCC.
Saurabh
Chopra
also
explained
the
growth
and
future
of
fantasy
and
esports
in
the
country.
He
also
explained
how
this
championship
is
changing
the
negative
perception
around
fantasy
sports.

Here
are
the
excerpts:

Mykhel:
How
is
NFCC
different
from
fantasy
cricket
contests?
What
according
to
you
is
the
USP
of
this
tournament?

Saurabh
Chopra:
National
Fantasy
Cricket
Championship
is
one
of
a
kind
free-to-play
tournament
that
provides
cricket
fanatics
with
an
opportunity
to
showcase
their
skills
and
knowledge
about
the
game
of
Cricket.
With
the
objective
to
bring
a
pathbreaking
change
in
the
cricket
era,
NFCC’s
main
USP
is
the
free-to-play
concept
that
challenges
the
cricket
fanatics
with
a
prospect
to
show
their
skill
and
aims
at
changing
the
perception
about
Online
Fantasy
Sports
industry
from
being
“just
about
money”
to
“all
about
glory.”

It
is
the
first
tournament
structure
of
fantasy
sports,
wherein
there
will
be
qualifiers,
semifinals,
and
the
final
for
the
players
as
well.
The
11
final
champions
of
the
game
will
get
a
chance
to
meet
Zaheer
Khan
and
1
winner
will
get
to
travel
to
the
mecca
of
cricket,
Lord’s
Cricket
Ground
in
England.

MK:
How
does
NFCC
aim
at
changing
the
perception
about
the
Online
Fantasy
Sports
industry
from
being
“just
about
money”
to
“all
about
glory”?

Saurabh
Chopra:
With
NFCC,
we
aim
to
create
an
impact
in
the
fantasy
sports
industry
and
engage
with
more
cricket
and
fantasy
sports
lovers.
It
is
all
about
“for
the
fans,
by
the
fans,”
giving
the
greatest
fans
of
the
game
their
“Dare
to
Dream”
moment,
a
chance
to
lift
the
Championship
Trophy
alongside
the
T20
World
Cup-winning
team.
The
concept
has
been
kept
free
of
cost
since
its
idea
is
to
recognise
fantasy
sports
beyond
the
means
to
make
money
and
perceive
it
as
a
game
of
skill
and
honour.

MK:
What
has
been
the
response
to
the
tournament?

Saurabh
Chopra:
The
overall
response
to
NFCC
has
been
overwhelming.
The
kind
of
engagement
we
have
received
is
beyond
our
expectations.
We
have
just
completed
our
first
qualifier
round
and
more
than
16.50
lakhs
teams
have
already
been
formed,
by
more
than
1,19,090
unique
users.
Not
just
the
existing
patrons
but
we’re
seeing
many
new
players
joining
the
league.

While
India
vs
New
Zealand
match
witnessed
62,000
plus
unique
users,
India
vs
Pakistan
match
saw
more
than
68,000
unique
users.
It
is
heartening
to
experience
such
a
good
response.
It
is
this
love
from
Indian
cricket
fanatics
and
the
craze
for
fantasy
sports
that
encourages
us
to
keep
innovating
and
bring
such
tournaments
to
life.

MK:
You
have
roped
in
Zaheer
Khan
as
the
brand
ambassador
of
NFCC.
What
was
the
reason
behind
bringing
Zak
on
board?

Saurabh
Chopra:
While
discussing
our
marketing
strategy,
one
thing
we
were
certain
about
was
that
we
wanted
to
onboard
someone
who
is
a
legend
of
the
game
and
has
made
an
impact
in
the
World
Cup
series
previously.
Zaheer
Khan
is
one
such
ace
cricketer
in
the
truest
of
sense.

Earlier,
we
had
associated
with
Yuvraj
Singh
who
has
also
been
one
of
the
most
inspiring
stars
of
Indian
cricket
both
in
2007
and
11
World
Cup,
and
we
wanted
to
continue
with
the
same
legacy.
We
thought
that
we
are
completing
a
circle
from
one
of
the
legendary
batsmen
to
one
of
the
best
pacers
of
all
time
in
the
history
of
Indian
cricket
and
the
third-highest
wicket-taker.

MK:
What
will
be
Zaheer’s
role
for
the
same?
Is
he
going
to
be
just
the
face,
or
will
he
be
offering
something
extra
towards
promoting
fantasy
cricket
as
a
whole?

Saurabh
Chopra:
Zaheer
is
not
just
the
face
for
NFCC
but
for
the
entire
brand
of
BalleBaazi.
Through
our
association,
we
plan
to
bring
about
the
much-needed
change
in
the
fantasy
sports
segment
and
aim
to
change
its
perception
from
just
being
“just
about
money”
to
“all
about
glory.”

MK:
People
still
perceive
fantasy
sports
as
betting/gambling.
How
do
you
plan
to
change
this
taboo?
How
much
success
have
you
achieved
in
this
regard?

Saurabh
Chopra:
With
real
money
and
fantasy
gaming,
people
have
a
traditional
approach
because
of
a
lack
of
awareness
and
understanding
of
skill
gaming.
To
address
the
same,
the
honourable
Supreme
court
and
High
court
have
time
and
again
stated
that
it
is
a
game
of
skill.
We
are
optimistic
that
gradually
all
the
states
will
be
on
board
with
the
decisions
made
by
other
states
and
uplift
the
bans.

As
far
as
being
successful
in
negating
the
taboo
is
concerned,
NFCC
is
a
prime
example
of
it.
We
have
only
received
positive
feedback
for
our
ongoing
tournament.
I
strongly
believe
it
is
all
about
reaching
out
to
the
people
in
the
right
manner
and
through
the
right
channels,
which
ensures
that
the
uses
are
being
educated
about
the
industry.
Though
we
have
a
long
way
to
go,
we
are
making
good
progress
in
that
direction.

MK:
The
courts
have
put
a
ban
on
fantasy
sports
in
some
states,
Karnataka
being
the
latest
addition.
How
are
you
and
the
industry
leaders
dealing
with
it?
Any
effort
made
in
this
department?

Saurabh
Chopra:
We
believe
that
it’s
a
matter
of
time
before
the
real
money
gaming
industry
gets
regulated
centrally
in
the
country.
We’ve
seen
NITI
Aayog
proposing
a
regulatory
structure
to
the
PMO,
in
the
past,
and
we
are
waiting
for
the
execution
of
the
proposed
steps.
In
the
meanwhile,
since
it’s
a
state
subject,
many
states
have
turned
positive.

We
believe
that
the
states,
who
have
voted
against
it,
will
catalyze
the
whole
process
for
central
regulation
of
the
sector
in
the
long
run.
That
said,
we’re
optimistic
that
gradually
all
the
states
will
be
on
board
with
the
gaming
industry
and
uplift
the
bans
from
their
respective
states.

MK:
What
do
you
feel
NFCC
would
have
achieved
when
it
concludes
on
November
14?

Saurabh
Chopra:
As
I
highlighted
earlier,
the
response
so
far
has
been
overwhelming.
At
this
rate,
we’re
certain
that
we’ll
be
able
to
cross
the
10
million
user
base
mark.
We’re
also
hoping
and
positive
that
we’ll
be
able
to
get
a
step
closer
to
changing
the
perception
from
being
“just
about
money”
to
“all
about
glory.”
For
us,
it
is
important
that
the
tournament
can
contribute
to
the
upliftment
of
the
online
gaming
sector
and
that
is
where
all
our
efforts
are
focused.