Vidit Gujrathi has turned the limelight back on him by winning the Fide Grand Swiss at Isle of Man on Sunday. It gave the 29-year old from Nashik a qualifying spot for the World Championship chess candidates tournament. "Amazing, unbelievable," said Vidit to Chessbase India.
"Chesswise, career-wise, the happiest day of life. To win such a strong Open event.... (average rating 2636 of 114 players)... except Carlsen, almost everyone was playing here." Vidit is only the third man from India, and first from Maharashtra, to qualify for the Candidates after V Anand and R Praggnanadhaa. He is the first person from outside southern states even if we include K Humpy for attaining this feat in the women's section. Vidit and Prag have made the cut without winning the national title, underlining strength and dogfight in Indian chess. It has taken 32 years for the second Indian man to make the grade after Anand did it for the first time in 1991. And now, we have two.
