Smartphone brand iQOO has announced that it has appointed 25-year-old esports coach and gamer, Vedang ‘Vedzz’ Vikas Chavan, as its Chief Gaming Officer 2.0.
Based in Navi Mumbai, with over seven years of professional gaming experience, he’ll be working with iQOO to ‘enhance smartphone gaming experiences’ and expand the brand’s presence in the esports ecosystem.
According to iQOO, the job opening was part of a three-month-long 2.0 hunt, which had more than 80,000 submissions from over 400 cities and towns. After multiple rounds, Vedzz was chosen, receiving a ₹10 Lakh (~$12,000/£9,300) prize and the position.
In the post online, Vedzz said: “This journey has been surreal, and I’m thankful to iQOO, the jury, and everyone who believed in me. I’m excited to now take this passion forward with iQOO and give back to the community that shaped me.”
iQOO Expands Esports Presence
Vedzz is most well-known for his run as a professional esports player in the PUBG scene, competing since 2019. He has participated in multiple tournaments throughout his career, from the Predator League and PUBG Singapore & Malaysia Series to his appearance at the Skyesports PUBG Nations Cup 2023 Qualifiers.
Vedzz is also the coach for esports organisation Orangutans in the PUBG Mobile scene. He has been coaching since 2020, with the most notable achievements being placing third in the 2022 BGMI Masters Series, and second in the same tournament in 2023 Season 2.
In the post online, Nipun Marya, CEO of iQOO, said: “With his experience as a player, coach, and mentor, we believe he will bring a sharper understanding of the gaming community and a fresh perspective to our esports initiatives.
“All of us at iQOO are excited to have him join the family, and we are confident he will make a meaningful impact in this role.”
Alongside the new Chief Gaming Officer, 23-year-old Harshvardhan Singh from Delhi has become iQOO’s official caster. With over two years of casting experience, he is well known for winning the Nodwin Gaming Talent Hunt three times, including during BGIS 2024
The smartphone brand has maintained an active presence in the esports scene, becoming a partner in events such as the Esports World Cup, and fostering esports teams such as iQOO S8UL in Battlegrounds Mobile India.
