Vidit Gujrathi eyes EWC 2026 Paris berth, calls India a chess power but not yet esports hub

Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi spoke to Times of India ahead of the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess LAN Finals, scheduled in Mumbai on Saturday. He reflected on a close call during the qualifier rounds and reaffirmed his ambition to qualify for the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris. Vidit acknowledged India's rising stature in global chess while noting the country still has significant ground to cover before becoming a true esports hub. He also commented on the growing but still evolving connection between traditional chess and the esports ecosystem.