Vidit Gujrathi Makes Esports Move, Joins Team Apex Gaming

Announcement

New Delhi — On November 9, Team Apex Gaming announced that Indian Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi has signed with the organisation, marking the group’s entry into competitive chess. The 31-year-old grandmaster becomes the team’s first chess player, adding another discipline to the organisation’s growing competitive portfolio.

The club welcomed Vidit through a social media post, stating that every great game needs a Grandmaster and that theirs had just arrived. Vidit himself confirmed the move on X, expressing his happiness at joining the team and signalling his intent to perform at the highest level.

About Team Apex Gaming

Founded in April 2026 by Jonathan Amaral, widely known as Jonathan Gaming — a prominentBGMI player and content creator — Team Apex Gaming began its operations within the mobile esports space. The organisation has since broadened its reach, bringing Free Fire and EA Sports FC Mobile under its banner alongside the new addition of chess.

• Team Apex Gaming has now added chess to its existing esports portfolio
• No financial terms, contract duration, or specific role details have been disclosed
• It remains unclear whether Vidit’s responsibilities will lean toward tournament play, content creation, or a combination of both

A Career Highlight Reel

Vidit’s path to the esports arena is built on a distinguished classical chess pedigree. He earned the Grandmaster title in 2013 and captured the FIDE Grand Swiss in 2023, a result that secured his spot in the 2024 Candidates Tournament held in Toronto. Representing India at the Chess Olympiad, he claimed gold medal honours in both 2022 and 2024 as part of the national team.

His crossover into competitive gaming formats is already underway. Earlier in 2026, Vidit progressed to the final of India Rising, the qualifying event for the chess competition at the Esports World Cup, where he was eventually edged out by Dutch Grandmaster Benjamin Bok in an Armageddon tiebreak.

Broader Trend

Vidit’s signing underscores the widening convergence between traditional over-the-board chess and the esports ecosystem, where live-streamed competition and creator-driven audiences are reshaping how players engage with fans.

Other top Indian grandmasters have already made similar moves. Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram represent S8UL, while Arjun Erigaisi is attached to Gen.G — both organisations with established reputations in the digital competitive space.

As for Team Apex Gaming, no further details have emerged regarding Vidit’s first competitive appearance or any upcoming events under the TAG banner.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Bridge — Chess.

Official source: https://thebridge.in/sports-market/vidit-gujrathi-joins-team-apex-gaming-58337