Vidit advanced to the Quarter Final with a smooth victory over the Azerbaijan GM Vasif Durarbayli. Vidit outprepared his opponent with the Black pieces in a Ruy Lopez Archangelsk opening and applied pressure right from the beginning. The relentless pressure created by Vidit provoked gradual mistakes from his opponent. Faced with an unsalvageable position and no time, his opponent resigned after 38 moves. Vidit will face the winner of the match between Russian GM Alexander Grichuk and Polish No:1, GM Jan-Krystzof Duda.
Report by GM N Srinath & Photo by Anastasiia Korolkova/FIDE

Senior National Arbiter (SNA) Seminar & Exam on October 24 & 25, 2026, at the Rotary Club, The Mall, Shimla.
Western Asian Junior/ Girls Chess Championship – 2026 from 22nd to 31st October 2026 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Western Asian Youth Chess Championships – 2026 in Ahmedabad ,Gujarat from 22-31 October 2026
Certificate of National Under 11 Chess Championship 2026 in Mangaluru from 02-08 August 2026
Fide Trainer Seminar in Mohali from 02-04 October 2026
SNA Seminar & Exam at Amity University, Near Chandigarh Airport, Airport Road, Mohali, Punjab on 03 & 04 October 2026.