Heartbreak for Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi as He Falls Short in Esports World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Heartbreak for Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi as EWC Dream Falls Short

Mumbai, October 7, 2023 — In a dramatic showdown at the Jio World Convention Centre, Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi’s aspirations to qualify for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 came to a heartbreaking end last Saturday. Gujrathi faced off against Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok in the final of the “India Rising: Road to EWC,” but fell short with a 2-1 defeat in sets.

Bok’s victory secured him the sole qualification spot from the India-specific pathway to the prestigious tournament, which will take place in Paris. He joins an elite group of 22 players, while India already boasts three qualified competitors: Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi.

Gupta’s journey to the finals was marked by impressive performances, including victories over M Pranesh and Raunak Sadhwani. Meanwhile, Bok showcased his prowess by eliminating Karthikeyan Murali and India’s top player, Arjun Erigaisi, in earlier rounds.

Reflecting on the significance of the EWC, Gujrathi had expressed his determination to qualify after narrowly missing out the previous year. “The Esports World Cup is a very interesting tournament. Last year, I tried to play the Last Chance Qualifier. I was leading the tournament, but in the last three rounds, I messed up and fell short,” he told Times of India. “I had flown to Riyadh specifically from the US, and it was very painful to know that after all those efforts, I couldn’t qualify. Now I have another chance to qualify… I’m hoping that this time around I can make it.”

The stakes were particularly high for Gujrathi, who had hoped to perform well in front of friends and family, emphasizing the importance of hosting the LAN Finals in Mumbai. “There are very few major tournaments held in India, so I was excited about the opportunity,” he noted.

Despite the disappointment, all hope is not lost for Gujrathi and other aspiring players. They will have another opportunity to qualify for the EWC through the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) later this year, where the final five spots for the main event will be contested.

As the chess community rallies behind him, Gujrathi’s journey continues, with fans eagerly awaiting his next move in the world of esports.