Road to Paris: Vidit Gujrathi vs. Benjamin Bok in High-Stakes Mumbai Final!

The Ultimate Live Chess Experience

The stakes could not possibly be higher, and Vidit will need the energy of a home crowd as he fights for national pride on this massive global stage. For every chess enthusiast who has cheered through YouTube livestreams and followed every move on their screens, this is your moment to witness world-class chess history unfold right before your eyes.

A Brilliant Initiative

India Rising: Road to EWC is a national esports pathway and gaming festival created by JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation. The festival combines competition, creator experiences, entertainment, fan engagement, and gaming culture.

Chess Meets India’s Biggest Gaming Festival

What makes this event extra special is that it is not just a chess match. It is part of India’s biggest festival for gaming and youth culture. Along with the intense chess action, the venue will be packed with fun activities on 4th July. You can check out interactive gaming zones, try cool VR experiences, see amazing cosplay, and meet thousands of other fans. To make things even more exciting, top gaming creators from famous eSports Orgs like GodLike and S8UL will play special matches, and the popular hip-hop duo Seedhe Maut will end the day with a massive live music concert.

Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out

Everyone in the Indian sports and gaming world is talking about this event, and you definitely do not want to miss out on the fun. This is our chance to show the world how passionate Indian chess fans really are by filling the arena to support Vidit on his road to Paris. Tickets for this one-day festival are selling out very fast. Head over to the District app right now, book your spot, and get ready to support Vidit live!

Tickets are selling out fast. Book your spot on the District app today to support Vidit live in Mumbai!

Format

The live Finals take place in Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, India. The winner earns a direct qualification spot at the Esports World Cup.

• Time control: 10+0

• Each match is best of three sets: the first two sets are four games each; the third set, if necessary, is two games

• If a set ends in a tie, a bidding armageddon tiebreak determines the winner

• Winner qualifies directly for the Esports World Cup

Path to Finals

The playoffs, held on Chess.com and streamed live on JioBLAST and Chess.com channels, featured top Indian and global Grandmasters competing in a knockout format after advancing through earlier Swiss-format qualifiers. Vidit Gujrathi secured his place in the LAN Finals after defeating rising Indian Grandmaster Pranesh M in the quarterfinals and Raunak Sadhwani in the semifinals. Benjamin Bok advanced after winning against Karthikeyan Murali and India No.1 Arjun Erigaisi.

"The Swiss stage was incredibly demanding because every round felt like a battle against world-class opposition. Formats like these really test your consistency, preparation and mental resilience over a sustained period. Qualifying for the LAN Finals from such a strong field makes this especially rewarding, and as a Mumbai player, I'm especially excited to compete in front of a home crowd. What also makes India Rising exciting is that it is creating meaningful global pathways for Indian chess players by connecting competitive chess with the rapidly growing esports ecosystem," said Vidit Gujrathi after this historic win.

"India has become one of the world's most exciting chess nations, with an incredible depth of talent and a passionate community that continues to inspire the next generation. Through India Rising: Road to EWC, our goal is to create a meaningful pathway that allows Indian players to compete for a place on one of the biggest global stages while giving fans the opportunity to experience elite chess in a completely new way," said Charlie Cowdrey, CEO, JioBLAST.

Important Links

Buy Tickets: Here

Jioblast: Official Site, Instagram, X page, Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube Channel

India Rising: Instagram