In a significant shift for Indian chess, Grandmaster Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, a leading flagbearer of the sport for the past decade, is consciously easing up on his playing career. The 31-year-old has revealed he is battling burnout and is now channeling his energy into a new tech-driven passion: creating specialized chess training websites for elite players through 'vibe coding'. This move comes as a 41-player Indian contingent prepares for the FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Qatar next week, an event where Vidit's absence will be notably felt.
A Conscious Decision to Step Back
Vidit Gujrathi, currently representing Triveni Continental Kings in the Global Chess League, has made a deliberate choice to reduce his tournament load. His calendar for next year is largely bare, save for the Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz in Kolkata. He admits to even deliberating until the last minute before events like the Grand Swiss, ultimately lacking the motivation to play. This decision stems from an 'intense burnout' experienced after his grueling, three-year quest to qualify for the World Championship cycle, which culminated in his participation in the elite eight-player Candidates tournament last year.
"After the Candidates I felt a burnout. And then I felt lost: 'Okay, I've reached the Candidates, now what?'" Vidit shared. He described an unsustainable schedule in 2023, working 14-16 hours daily on chess. "That got me questioning: Do I really want to keep up this schedule? Or do I want to take a step back?" While the reduced intensity bothers him slightly, he acknowledges the previous pace was not maintainable and is now enjoying exploring other avenues.
The New Frontier: Vibe Coding for Elite Chess
Over the last couple of months, Vidit has found a new creative outlet that merges his chess expertise with his long-standing interest in technology. He has personally created at least three functional chess training websites using 'vibe coding'. This modern approach involves using artificial intelligence to write the background code based on human prompts, allowing someone without deep programming knowledge to build tools.
His websites are specifically designed for top-tier players, filling a gap he identified in the market. "The already existing training tools are for the masses. Not for the elite level chess players. But these ones that I have made are for elite players, and they're free to use," Vidit explained. The sites include 'memory.viditchess', which tests position recall, and 'tactics.viditchess', which uses real-game situations from events like the FIDE World Cup. He has already received positive feedback from fellow Grandmasters like Anish Giri and Vasif Durarbayli.
Reflections and Future Pathways
As he looks ahead to a future with fewer tournaments, Vidit is contemplative. He harbors some regret, believing that better control over his nerves could have added 30-40 points to his ELO rating. Yet, he is proud of proving that with dedicated effort, as shown in his three-year push, he could reach the Candidates tournament.
He is open to mentoring young talents, potentially "living the dream of becoming world champion through someone else." His foray into tech is also a full-circle moment. Back in 2016, while working with Anish Giri, he attempted to create opening preparation tools but was hindered by slower technology, requiring collaboration with a software engineer. "But right now, I can do it myself. I feel like I can solve my own problems. Such an enabler the year 2025 has been," he remarked, highlighting how AI has empowered him to build solutions independently.
Vidit Gujrathi's journey illustrates the evolving landscape for professional athletes, where passion can be redirected into adjacent, innovative fields. While Indian chess will miss his consistent presence on the board, his new venture into crafting AI-powered training tools promises to leave a different, yet significant, mark on the sport's ecosystem.
