Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi and Dutch GM Benjamin Bok Reach EWC Chess LAN Finals
Exciting Developments in Chess
Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, a double Olympiad Gold medalist, along with Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok, has successfully qualified for the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess LAN Finals in Mumbai. This follows a thrilling playoff stage that showcased some of the top talents in competitive chess.
The LAN Finals in Mumbai will determine which player advances to the final round of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026, set to take place in Paris.
Playoff Highlights
The playoffs were conducted on Chess.com and were streamed live on JioBLAST and Chess.com channels. They featured elite Indian and international Grandmasters competing in a knockout format after progressing through earlier Swiss-format qualifiers. Gujrathi, who won a silver medal at the Asian Games, secured his spot in the LAN finals by defeating M Pranesh in the quarterfinals and Raunak Sadhwani in the semifinals. Meanwhile, Bok advanced by overcoming Karthikeyan Murali and World No. 11 Arjun Erigaisi in a tightly contested bracket.
Gujrathi's Reflections on His Journey
"The Swiss stage was incredibly demanding because every round felt like a battle against world-class opposition. Formats like these really test your consistency, preparation, and mental resilience over a sustained period. Qualifying for the LAN Finals from such a strong field makes this especially rewarding, and as a Mumbai player, I'm particularly excited to compete in front of a home crowd. What also makes India Rising exciting is that it is creating meaningful global pathways for Indian chess players by connecting competitive chess with the rapidly growing esports ecosystem," stated Vidit Gujrathi after his remarkable achievement.
Overview of India Rising: Road to EWC
India Rising: Road to EWC is an initiative by JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation aimed at establishing a competitive pathway that links Indian chess and esports talent to the global Esports World Cup ecosystem. The playoffs followed a nine-round Swiss-format qualifying stage featuring prominent Indian Grandmasters such as Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Raunak Sadhwani, and others. Notably, Aravindh Chithambaram has already qualified as the first Indian Grandmaster for the Esports World Cup 2026.
JioBLAST's Vision for Indian Chess
Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST, commented on the growing excitement surrounding the competition: "The level of competition throughout the India Rising: Road to EWC qualifiers and playoffs reflects both the strength of Indian chess and the increasing crossover between chess and the esports ecosystem. By uniting Tier 1 talent with emerging grassroots players on a single platform, India Rising: Road to EWC embodies the shared ethos of JioBLAST and EWC to create inclusive, long-term pathways for players and fans to rise, compete, and gain recognition."
Path to the Esports World Cup 2026
The upcoming India Rising LAN Finals in Mumbai will determine which player will advance to the final stage of the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris, where competitors will vie for a share of the impressive $1.5 million prize pool.