Ahead of the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess LAN Finals in Mumbai on Saturday, Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi spoke to TimesofIndia.com about his journey through the qualifiers, India's growing stature in world chess, and the evolving relationship between chess and esports. Reflecting on a near-elimination scare, Vidit backed India's dedicated EWC pathway and expressed his determination to secure a place at the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris.