Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi speaks ahead of the “India Rising: Road to EWC” Chess LAN Finals in Mumbai, set for Saturday. In an interview with Times of India, he describes his progress through the event’s qualifiers and notes an earlier near-elimination scare during the process. Gujrathi says India continues to strengthen its position in world chess and frames the country as a “chess powerhouse.” At the same time, he argues that India is still not fully established as an esports hub.
On the connection between chess and esports, Gujrathi discusses how chess competitions are increasingly aligning with esports pathways and highlights the role of structured qualifying routes. He expresses support for an India-specific EWC pathway and says his immediate goal is to secure a place at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris. The interview centers on his tournament journey, his view of India’s rising global chess stature, and what it will take for chess talent and events to translate into a broader esports ecosystem.
