Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Vidit Gujrathi Felicitated Following Arjuna Award Chess Recognition
Vidit Gujrathi is a chess player from Nashik, India.
He started playing chess when he was six years old.
He won the World Youth Chess Championship when he was 14.
He became a Grandmaster in 2013.
In 2017, his chess rating rose above 2,700.
The Government of India selected him for the Arjuna Award.
The Maharashtra Chess Association then honoured him at a chess championship in Mumbai.
Vidit said the award made both him and his parents very happy.
Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi was felicitated by the Maharashtra Chess Association in Mumbai after being selected for the Arjuna Award.
The ceremony took place during the Asian Junior Chess Championship 2026 at the ITC Maratha Sheraton on 19 August 2026.
Vidit and Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh were the only chess players from Maharashtra named among the Arjuna Award recipients.
Vidit began playing chess at six, won the World Youth Chess Championship at 14, and became a Grandmaster in 2013.
He crossed a 2,700 Elo rating in 2017, while crediting his parents for inspiring and motivating him.
- Who
- Chess Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi was felicitated; Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh was also named an Arjuna Award recipient.
- What
- Vidit was honoured after being selected for the Arjuna Award for his contribution to Indian chess and sports.
- When
- The felicitation took place on 19 August 2026; the articles also cite Vidit's chess milestones from 2006, 2013 and 2017.
- Where
- The ceremony was held at the ITC Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai during the Asian Junior Chess Championship 2026; Vidit is from Nashik, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The Maharashtra Chess Association recognised Vidit's achievements and his selection for the national Arjuna Award.
- Award
- Arjuna Award
- Felicitation date
- 19 August 2026
- Felicitation venue
- ITC Maratha Sheraton, Mumbai
- Organiser
- Maharashtra Chess Association
- Chess milestone
- Vidit became a Grandmaster in 2013
- World achievement
- He won the World Youth Chess Championship at age 14
- Rating milestone
- He crossed a 2,700 Elo rating in 2017
