Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi and Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok have successfully qualified for the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess LAN Finals, set to take place in Mumbai. This event is crucial as it will determine which player advances to the final stage of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris. Gujrathi, a double Olympiad Gold medalist, secured his place by defeating fellow Indian Grandmasters M Pranesh in the quarterfinals and Raunak Sadhwani in the semifinals. Bok's path to the finals included victories over Karthikeyan Murali and World No. 11 Arjun Erigaisi. The playoffs featured a knockout format after an earlier Swiss-format qualifying stage, highlighting the depth of talent in Indian chess. The initiative, India Rising, launched by JioBLAST and the Esports Foundation, aims to bridge competitive chess with the growing esports landscape, creating global opportunities for Indian players. The finals will not only showcase the players' skills but also the strength of Indian chess on an international platform.