NEW DELHI: The India Rising: Road to EWC Chess qualifiers have reached a final between Grandmasters Vidit Gujrathi of India and Benjamin Bok of the Netherlands. Both advanced to the LAN Finals in Mumbai after navigating a competitive field. The winner will secure a spot among 14 players at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris. Indian Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin and Arjun Erigaisi have already qualified for the main event.
Vidit defeated M Pranesh and Raunak Sadhwani en route to the final, while Bok eliminated Karthikeyan Murali and Erigaisi. Before the Mumbai match, Vidit spoke about the event, the blend of chess and esports, and India’s role in both.
He said he was pleased when the India Rising Championship was announced, especially since the finals would take place in Mumbai. Few major tournaments occur in India, so the chance for family and friends to attend excited him. He noted the multiple qualifying stages made the path challenging.
Vidit described the online 10-minute no-increment format as distinct from traditional over-the-board chess. The lack of increment demands different strategy and modern play that has grown prominent in recent years.
He highlighted India’s dominance in chess, citing the Olympiad gold, the world champion, the Women’s World Cup winner and other top players. With many strong competitors, India merits its own Esports World Cup pathway to ensure representation in a global competition.
Qualification proved difficult for Vidit. After a long break he felt rusty, lost early and relied on tie-breaks to advance from the first stage. He credited some luck for reaching the later rounds.
He welcomed the Mumbai final, noting the city hosts few major chess events despite its status. The esports scene in India has grown since the pandemic, he added.
