Vidit Gujrathi, The Man Who Meditated 900 Days

Vidit Gujrathi’s parents had to shift around a lot of parts in their lives so that their gifted son could move pieces on the chess board. Santosh and Nikita Gujrathi were both doctors in Nasik. They had taken loans for a clinic and for Vidit’s coaching and travel. The couple also have a daughter, Vedika. When it became impossible to juggle home and work, Nikita sacrificed her career. From being a gynaecologist, she became a beauty consultant.

Luckily for the Gujrathis, it all worked out. Vidit, 28, is among India’s top players. He led India to Chess Olympiad gold in 2020, and defeated world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen this year. Currently, he is in Dubai playing for the upGrad Mumba Masters in the inaugural Global Chess League. In this interview, he shares his views about the challenges of chess and how important it is for parents to be there for their children.

How is the Global Chess League (GCL) different from any other tournament? As someone who prefers classical chess, what do you think of the game going into the franchise direction?

I think this tournament is very different when it comes to the stature and also chess wise, the dynamics are different because the rules have been tweaked a bit, like a win with black pieces has more value than with white, for example. I do prefer classical chess, but I also understand that more and more tournaments are going to happen in the shorter format. So this is one thing which I have to really adapt to very soon.

You and your family made a lot of sacrifices for you to become a chess player. What is your advice to families putting their children into sports?

I was very lucky because my parents, my sister, they really made a lot of sacrifices for me. One thing which I recall after all these years is that I never felt that my parents didn't give me time. I think that's one of the things which is very valuable. We did struggle with the financial aspect at the beginning, but they were always there for me. With their heart and soul. And they were giving me time. So I would advise the same to other parents - to give the kid as much time and support as you can.

You have victories over the likes of Magnus Carlsen. How do you handle the pressure moments playing against big opponents?

I do like a challenge, and I would not say that I have perfected the art of handling the pressure. There's still a lot to do. But if I look back at my childhood, if a game didn't go my way, I would throw things, I would cry. I think I have come a long way from that. Now I can brush off an unpleasant result more easily. So yes, handling big moments has become easier because I've worked on my psychological aspect. But I still think there's huge scope for improvement.

Everyone thinks of chess as a mental game first, but has it also become a physical game to some extent now?

Chess definitely has a lot of mental aspects. Not just like the moves and training, but even the psychological aspect.

In a physical sport you can let yourself go, the adrenaline takes over and it helps you cool down nerves. But in chess the thoughts are going to be magnified and you can't really run it off in a game. So it lurks more I would say.

The physical part becomes important in preparation. There are so many tournaments happening nowadays, back to back. I've been on tour now for almost two and a half months. So I do try to stay in shape and I enjoy that. I have seen some people playing with a large belly and still do well. But just for personal reasons, I like to work on my physical fitness.

What is it about chess that makes a lot of Indians good at it?

I think there's a very good culture right now. So if you are talented and if you are doing well, you will get a lot of attention, especially when you're young. There are a lot of good coaches in India right now who at some point were good players. The sponsorship has also increased in recent times. One more thing is that many of the Indian kids are hardworking, whereas in Europe or the USA the kids have other opportunities which are equally lucrative.

You used to say chess moves in your sleep. Does that still happen?

At least no one tells me about it anymore. But I do have thoughts. Even today, when I was napping before the game, thoughts about an earlier match were going on in my head. So I do get these dreams about chess.

You practise about 7 hours a day. What drills, routines do you enjoy the most and which ones do you not like so much?

I enjoy working with someone. I also like solitude. But when I'm working with someone, it's more enjoyable. And there are two aspects to the game. One is the technical part and one is the sportive part. So when it comes to the technical part, it has become really hard to find an advantage because the modern computers are so strong that they have really increased the level of chess.

So it has become harder to get advantage out of the opening. So that part sometimes can get boring. But when I do positions, or even sometimes when I come with new training methods, it's kind of motivating.

How long do you meditate and how has it helped you?

I would say 10 to 15 minutes a day. It's not much, but I have not missed a day in 900 days as of now. So today is the 900th day and it has really helped me in handling my emotions. Like right now, for example, when I'm giving this interview, I'm upset about a result, but I'm composed.