Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi highlights lack of professionalism in chess scheduling, calls for overhaul in sport ecosystem

Indian GM Vidit Gujrathi Raises Concerns Over Professionalism in Chess Scheduling

Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi, known for his exceptional skills on the chessboard, recently expressed his concerns about the lack of professionalism in the scheduling of chess events. During his round 9 match against US GM Hikaru Nakamura at the FIDE Candidates 2024 chess tournament in Toronto, Canada, Gujrathi highlighted the adverse effects of the hectic tournament schedule on players’ well-being.

Having achieved remarkable success in his career, including being a part of India’s gold-winning campaign in the Chess Olympiad, Gujrathi emphasized the need for a major overhaul in the sport’s ecosystem to provide players with more balance in their lives. He pointed out the continuous back-to-back tournaments that leave players with little time for personal life or rest, affecting their physical and mental health.

Gujrathi, who became a Grandmaster at the age of 16 and has consistently performed at a high level, believes that chess lacks professionalism in terms of scheduling compared to physical sports. He stressed the importance of rest and recovery for players to maintain peak performance, a factor often overlooked in the chess world.

Despite his own achievements, Gujrathi remains focused on his ultimate goal of winning the world title and acknowledges that success in recent tournaments is just a stepping stone towards that goal. He continues to search for the formula that will bring more consistency to his game, experimenting with different approaches to improve his performance.

Looking ahead to the World Championship final between D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren, scheduled in Singapore later this year, Gujrathi considers Gukesh a clear favorite based on Ding’s recent form. He hopes for an exciting and competitive match that will captivate spectators and showcase the best of chess.

As Gujrathi advocates for a more balanced and professional approach to chess scheduling, his insights shed light on the challenges faced by players in the competitive world of professional chess.