07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Free Fire Tournament Registration 2025: Check participation rules, eligibility, schedule, prize money
Garena has announced the
TEZ Free Fire Max India Cup
2025 (TEZ FFMIC), marking the return of Free Fire esports to India for the first time since the 2022 ban. The tournament, set to be played exclusively on Free Fire Max, offers a total prize pool of Rs 1 crore. Registrations will open on July 7, 2025, through the in-game interface and official Garena platforms.
Free Fire Max to host Free Fire Tournament 2025
While the original Free Fire remains banned in India due to national security concerns, the enhanced version — Free Fire Max — will serve as the platform for the tournament. Known for its improved graphics and smoother gameplay, Free Fire Max has remained available in the country and now forms the core of Garena's esports return.
Free Fire Tournament 2025: Schedule and structure
Garena has released the full schedule and format for the TEZ FFMIC:
In-Game Qualifiers: July 13, 2025
Online Qualifiers: July 26 – August 3, 2025
League Stage: August 22 – September 14, 2025
Grand Finals: September 27 – 28, 2025
The top 48 teams from the In-Game Qualifiers will proceed to the Online Qualifiers. Each team will play up to 12 matches. The top 8 teams from this phase will then move forward to the League Stage and eventually to the Grand Finals.
Live Events
Free Fire Tournament Registration 2025: Participation rules and eligibility
To ensure competitive standards, all team members must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Minimum rank: Diamond 1
Minimum level: 40
Only players who fulfill both conditions will be allowed to take part in the tournament.
Why Free Fire was banned
Free Fire was banned in India in 2022 along with several other applications linked to Chinese firms. The government cited national security concerns for the ban. While a relaunch of the original game was expected in 2023, it remains inaccessible. However, Free Fire Max continued to operate, and now it serves as the base for Garena's return to Indian esports.
The announcement has also sparked excitement across social media. Users have responded with posts such as, 'Ache din ki shuruaat ho gyii!' and 'Abhi maza aiyega na bidu!'
With its return, Free Fire is expected to compete directly with BGMI, expanding choices for gamers and giving a fresh boost to India's growing mobile esports market.
