KOLKATA: India's hopes of seeing someone from the country making the Candidates chess meet rest on the shoulders of Vidit Gujrathi now. The winner of the Candidates tournament gets the right to challenge the world champion for the world title. In spite of the rising status of Indian chess players on the world stage, none other than Viswanathan Anand could make this prestigious event till now.
Vidit came close to making it before losing to Polish Grandmaster Jan-Krzystof Duda in the quarterfinals of the World Cup in Sochi, Russia in July. The winner and runner-up of the World Cup qualified for the Candidates next year. However, Vidit's next chance to take a shot at Candidates went begging after the Nasik boy decided to skip the Grand Chess Swiss last month. "It was a difficult decision, but I preferred the health issues of me and my family over the game," he told TOI. Latvia, the venue of the event, was going through a lockdown period due to rising Covid cases at that time and although Fide got special permission to hold the event, Vidit felt it unsafe to travel. "There was a lot of uncertainty then. I mulled on the issue for three nights, consulted many people before deciding not to go," he said. The tournament, however, went well and the top two finishers of that meet also made the Candidates. "I do not regret that as I took the best call on that situation," he said.
The India No.2 is now left with the Chess Grand Prix scheduled in Berlin next February to make the grade. Vidit preferred to take a realistic view of the challenge. "Qualifying for the Candidates will be a great motivator for me and a high point of my career. But at the same time I am aware of the fact that the Grand Prix format is extremely tough," he said. The 16-player event consists of four mini-tournaments, followed by knockout matches between the winners of the mini-tournaments.
Talking about why no Indian could make the Candidates, Vidit said "the World Championship cycle is very tough. You have to be very, very skilful and at the top of your game in those qualifying events," he said.
However, the 27-year-old is optimistic that an Indian will make it sooner than later. "There is no doubt that breaking into the Candidates is tough. But I am optimistic that it will not be long when someone from the country will make it. And I feel once someone does that, more will follow. Once you have someone up there, others will get that confidence and believe to reach there," he added.
