IMD case FIBA Esports: The Value Capture Challenge has won first place in the 2026 John Molson MBA International Case Competition. Written by IMD Professor of AI, Analytics and Marketing Strategy Amit Joshi, IMD Term Research Professor Ivy Buche, and IMD graduate Aundria Elahe Mirabrishami (MBA 2025), the case examines the future of basketball esports.
The panel, composed of the International Case Competition Board of Directors, selected the case for its relevance, quality, and the strategic challenge it presents to students.
“This win once again highlights the strength of a primary-source case study. Huge thanks to FIBA for their exceptional support, collaboration, and data access throughout the case writing process. Their openness allowed us to clearly frame the strategic business challenge at the heart of the esports story, which I believe was crucial to our success,” said Amit Joshi. “I would also like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of our MBA co-author, Aundria Elahe Mirabrishami, whose passion for sports was fundamental to the origination and development of this case.”
“As compared to the corporate cases, the FIBA case is special as it introduced me to the emerging domain of basketball esports, where national pride, passion, and digital competition feel just as fierce as on the physical court. While the value creation potential is substantial, the challenge is in seizing it, as we’ve demonstrated in the case,” added Ivy Buche.
“This is an incredible win for both IMD and FIBA, and for a story that deserves a global platform. I’m grateful to have helped bring it to the world, and I hope it contributes to the growing credibility and long-term viability of esports within the broader sports ecosystem,” shared Aundria Elahe Mirabrishami.
Founded in 1981, the John Molson Case Writing Competition is known to be the largest of its kind. Its purpose is to bridge the academic and corporate worlds through the discussion and analysis of top-quality case studies.
Last year, the case Has Nike lost its stride?, written by Buce with IMD Professor of Strategy and Marketing Goutam Challagalla, was recognized at the 43rd edition of the Case Writing Competition.
