North American esports organisation OpTic Gaming has forged a partnership with AFK Gaming and SoStronk that will see a new all-Indian Counter-Strike: Global Offensive team be formed.

OpTic Gaming and its partners are set to host tryouts for the team, aptly titled OpTic India, from May 7th. Participants will undergo “an extensive evaluation based on psychometric and theoretical tests in addition to role-based and in-game analysis,” according to the organisation.

Candidates who make a shortlist will then play numerous matches under the watchful eyes of SoStronk’s Prashant “Aequitas” Prabhakar and Ali “Alicus” Saba, Scouting Director of Infinite Esports and Entertainment – OpTic Gaming’s parent company. The selection process will be wrapped up at the LXG Arena in Bangalore, on May 12-13th.

Nick “ashes” Ridgeway, Gears of War Coach for OpTic Gaming and Head of Play Support at Infinite Esports and Entertainment said: “We are very excited to be working alongside the excellent teams at AFK Gaming and SoStronk for our expansion into India. At OpTic Gaming, we are passionate about growing and supporting exciting new regions, so India was a natural next step due to the support of so many Indian fans in both India and around the globe.”

Registration for the OpTic India draft is open now. SoStronk’s website, which is the destination for registrants, calls this prospective team OpTic’s Academy team. The five members who make it all the way will be offered “competitive salaries”, a “cutting edge bootcamp”, and access to “top international coaches & analysts”.

This move comes just days after OpTic Gaming’s main CS:GO team transitioned to having a full-Danish lineup, acquiring Jakob “JUGi” Hansen and Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer from Heroic.

Esports Insider says: Infinite Esports and Entertainment has done some intriguing things since its inception in 2017 – including the GG Esports Academy and the upcoming OpTic Arena – but this may take the cake. Giving an opportunity for budding Indian competitors to join a top tier esports organisation is an exciting move to spectate, never mind be a part of.