For Vlad Marinescu, President of the International Esports Federation -IESF-, gaming began with friends connecting their computers at someone’s house and playing through the weekend. His career would also take him into international sports administration, including two decades with the International Judo Federation -IJF-, where he served as director general before leaving in February 2025. That combination of gaming, competitive sport and federation management shapes his approach to leading the esports organisation.
In this exclusive interview with SportsIn, Marinescu discusses his connection to the gaming community and assesses the first nine months since his return to the IESF presidency. He says the federation has cleared its outstanding debt and secured agreements supporting its financial stability, while developing partnerships, education and its competition calendar. With World Esports Championship hosts confirmed for 2026 and 2027, he also explains why earlier planning matters for national federations and their athletes.
A life shaped by sport and gaming
Why are you in esports?
Because I am a gamer. Since middle school, my friends and I would organise LAN parties at someone’s house and play through the weekend, usually until Monday morning. I sometimes joke that those weekends prepared me for the long nights of organising major international events.
Sport is very important in my life. I was a seven-time American karate champion, an awarded water polo player, and I have spent two decades working in the Olympic sport of judo. Sport taught me discipline, respect, resilience and teamwork. Gaming developed my creativity, my ability to multitask and my IT skills. Together, they gave me friendships, competition and a sense of community. I am in esports because this is my community, and I want to use everything I have learned in sport and life to stand up for it.
IESF’s finances and championship plans
Nine months after your election, what has changed at IESF—and what can your members point to as evidence?
I am very happy to be back and to be working with the IESF community again. Over these nine months, we have cleared IESF’s outstanding debt and put the organisation on a positive monetary footing. We are stable financially, with our future secured through agreements that support positive cash flow, and a strong group of partners. We continue to pursue new partnerships and expand our media activities around the World Esports Championship. That work will help us grow and create more value for our partners and members.
We have also confirmed World Esports Championship hosts for 2026 and 2027, delivered the tenth World Esports Summit, established the IESF Academy and prepared its first course for launch. Our AIMS application has been submitted, and work is underway on championship hosts for 2028 and beyond. This is a team achievement. I am proud of our strong National Federations, Board and dedicated administration. Their expertise, commitment and teamwork have made this progress possible.
What is confirmed for this year’s World Esports Championship, and how far ahead are you planning?
The 2026 World Esports Championship will take place in Indonesia from December 15–20, with more than 500 athletes expected from over 110 member national federations, competing under their national flags across mobile, console and PC titles.
Astana, Kazakhstan, is confirmed for 2027, including national qualification, continentals and mega live final in Astana August 26 – September 6. We are also working to secure hosts for 2028 and beyond. Earlier planning gives national federations more time to organise qualification, prepare their teams and develop partnerships that support their athletes.
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