Finally, after 45 editions of the Chess Olympiad, India won gold in the tournament. What makes it even more special is that India secured double gold, both in the open and women’s categories. While young players like R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and G. Gukesh played with great aggression, the 29-year-old Vidit Gujrathi used his experience to win 5 rounds and draw 4, remaining unbeaten. Let’s learn more about Vidit Gujrathi.
Early life and Family Support
Vidit Gujrathi was born in Nashik to Santosh Gujrathi and Nikita Santosh Gujrathi. From an early age, Vidit received chess training alongside his primary education at Fravashi Academy. His parents made significant sacrifices to support his passion for chess. Both Santosh and Nikita were practising doctors in Nashik and took loans to fund their clinic, Vidit’s coaching, and his travel expenses for chess tournaments.
Parental Sacrifices and Career Shift
Balancing family and professional responsibilities became increasingly challenging for Nikita. To better support Vidit’s career, she made the difficult decision to prioritise her family over her medical practice, transitioning from her role as a gynaecologist to a beauty consultant. This shift allowed her to focus more on Vidit’s growing chess career while supporting the family’s financial needs. The couple also has a daughter, Vedika.
Early Chess Success
Vidit’s journey to chess stardom began early. In 2006, he earned the title of FIDE Master by placing second in the Asian Youth Championships in the U12 category. Two years later, he made history as the first Indian to win the World Youth Chess Championship in the Open U14 section. Vidit’s success continued in 2009 when he tied for first place in the U16 category of the World Youth Chess Championship, finishing second after S. P. Sethuraman. In January 2010, he reached a rating of 2500, marking his first major step towards becoming a Grandmaster. At the World Junior Chess Championship in Chennai the following year, Vidit achieved his first Grandmaster norm.
Becoming a Grandmaster
Vidit’s quest for the Grandmaster title progressed steadily. In 2011, at the Nagpur International Open, he finished with 8 points out of 11, just one point behind Ziaur Rahman. He earned his second Grandmaster norm shortly after and finally secured his third and final GM norm at the age of 18 during the Rose Valley Kolkata Open Grandmasters’ Chess Tournament in 2012, where he placed third.
Vidit continued to shine on the international stage. By January 2014, Vidit crossed the significant 2600-rating mark, further establishing himself as one of India’s top chess talents, and the rest is history.
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