Vidit Santosh Gujrathi is an Indian chess Grandmaster from Nashik, Maharashtra. He is among the leading Indian chess players of his generation and was the third Indian, after Viswanathan Anand and Pentala Harikrishna, to cross the 2700 Elo rating mark in classical chess. Gujrathi has represented India at the Chess Olympiad and at the FIDE World Cup, and has captained the Indian team in international competition.
Key facts
| Full name | Vidit Santosh Gujrathi |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 October 1994 |
| Place of birth | Nashik, Maharashtra, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Title | Grandmaster (FIDE) |
| GM title awarded | 2013 |
| Sport | Chess |
| Federation | All India Chess Federation (AICF) |
| Notable feat | Crossed 2700 Elo rating |
Background
Vidit was born on 24 October 1994 in Nashik, Maharashtra. He took to chess at an early age and was guided in his formative years by coaches in Maharashtra before working with international trainers. He combined his chess career with academic studies, a balance that he has spoken about in interviews. His parents, both medical professionals, supported his chess pursuits from a young age.
Junior career
Gujrathi made his mark at the junior level by winning age-group medals in international youth events. He won the World Youth Chess Championship in the Under-14 category in 2008. He went on to win the bronze medal at the World Junior Chess Championship in 2013. He earned the International Master title before securing the Grandmaster norms required for the GM title, which was conferred in 2013, making him one of India's youngest Grandmasters at the time.
Senior career
After becoming a Grandmaster, Vidit steadily climbed the world rankings. He recorded victories and strong finishes at events on the European circuit, including open tournaments in Spain, Italy and the Isle of Man, and rose into the global top 30. He crossed the 2700 Elo threshold in classical chess in the late 2010s, becoming only the third Indian to do so.
Gujrathi has been a regular member of the Indian national team. He played for India at multiple Chess Olympiads, and was part of the Indian squad that shared the gold medal at the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad in 2020 (jointly awarded with Russia after a disputed final). He served as captain of the Indian team in subsequent international team competitions.
In the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament held on the Isle of Man in 2023, Vidit produced one of the standout performances of his career, winning the event and earning qualification to the Candidates Tournament. He competed in the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024 in Toronto, Canada, where he defeated several elite players over the course of the event.
Style and contribution
Vidit is known for solid opening preparation, strong positional understanding and resourceful play in complex middlegames. He has authored chess content online, runs a popular chess channel for instructional and commentary videos, and has been active in promoting chess in India through exhibitions and training initiatives.
Timeline
- 1994: Born in Nashik, Maharashtra.
- 2008: Won the World Youth Chess Championship (Under-14).
- 2013: Awarded the Grandmaster title; won bronze at the World Junior Championship.
- Late 2010s: Crossed the 2700 Elo classical rating.
- 2020: Part of the India team that won the FIDE Online Chess Olympiad (joint gold).
- 2023: Won the FIDE Grand Swiss on the Isle of Man, qualifying for the Candidates Tournament.
- 2024: Played in the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Toronto.
Significance
Vidit Gujrathi is considered one of the principal figures in the post-Anand generation of Indian chess, alongside players such as P. Harikrishna, B. Adhiban and the younger cohort led by D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa and Arjun Erigaisi. His qualification for a Candidates Tournament made him one of a small number of Indians to reach that stage of the World Chess Championship cycle, reflecting the broader rise of India as a chess power.
Related topics
- Viswanathan Anand
- Pentala Harikrishna
- D. Gukesh
- R. Praggnanandhaa
- Arjun Erigaisi
- Chess in India
- All India Chess Federation
- Chess Olympiad
- FIDE Candidates Tournament
- FIDE Grand Swiss
References
- FIDE player profile, International Chess Federation.
- All India Chess Federation records.
- Reports of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 and FIDE Candidates Tournament 2024.