India’s chess powerhouse: Vidit on esports hub Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi will face Benjamin Bok of the Netherlands in the final of the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess qualifiers on Saturday in Mumbai. The winner earns a coveted spot at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, joining already qualified Indian Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi. Vidit defeated M Pranesh and Raunak Sadhwani en route to the final, while Bok stunned India No. 1 Erigaisi in a standout run.
In an exclusive interview, Vidit shared his excitement about the LAN final being held in Mumbai, a rare major chess event in India. He noted the unique format of 10 minutes with no increment, requiring a modern strategy that differs from traditional tournaments. This style of play has only emerged in the last few years, and it’s gaining traction, he said. Vidit emphasized the importance of India having its own pathway to the Esports World Cup, given the nation’s chess dominance with the Olympiad gold, a World Champion, and a Women’s World Cup winner.
Reflecting on his qualification journey, Vidit admitted it was challenging, as he felt rusty and lost an early game but advanced on tie-breaks. He called the Mumbai final a significant opportunity to boost the esports scene in India, which has grown since the pandemic. Having a LAN final here will encourage more global events, he added. Vidit also noted chess’s natural fit with esports, citing its top-viewed status at last year’s Esports World Cup.
Looking ahead, Vidit believes India is still some way from becoming a global hub for esports-chess events, requiring more tournaments and grassroots work. However, he predicted progress within five years. The Esports World Cup offers a unique opportunity to reach a different audience, he said. I’m preparing well and hope to make it this time. This showdown underscores India’s rising role in the fusion of chess and esports.