Heartbreak for Indian chess fans as Vidit falls in Mumbai; Bok seals EWC berth

Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi missed out on qualification for the Esports World Cup 2026 after losing 2-1 to Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok in the India Rising: Road to EWC final in Mumbai. Vidit, who had hoped to redeem last year’s near miss, said before the final that playing the Mumbai LAN and earning an EWC spot meant “a lot” to him.