When chess champions Viswanathan Anand, Gukesh Dommaraju danced their hearts out at grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi’s wedding. Videos go viral

What happens when some of the world’s top chess grandmasters gather under one roof—at a wedding, no less? Naturally, the board is set for celebration, not competition. On April 2, GM Vidit Gujrathi tied the knot with Nidhi Kataria at the picturesque Oxford Golf Resort in Pune, India. Vidit, currently ranked 25th in the world on the live rating list, is one of India’s most prominent chess players, while Nidhi, 28, is a practicing homeopathic doctor. The couple announced their engagement last November, and their wedding has since been one of the most eagerly awaited events in the chess community. However, it was World Champions Viswanathan Anand and Gukesh Dommaraju who took the internet by storm with their moves.

A host of grandmasters and top chess players, including 15th World Champion Viswanathan Anand and the newly crowned 18th World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, brought their energy off the board and onto the dance floor. As seen in the video below, the baraat — Vidit’s celebratory wedding procession — turned into a vibrant celebration where strategy gave way to spirited moves. With a combined Elo that would rival any elite tournament, it was a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of chess royalty in full festive swing.

Who all attended the wedding?

Among the many guests, GM Anish Giri and his wife IM Sopiko Guramishvili flew in from the Netherlands, arriving early to shop for traditional Indian attire. The wedding drew hundreds, including a star-studded lineup from the Indian chess scene. Notable grandmasters in attendance included Arjun Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Abhimanyu Puranik, Sasikiran Krishnan, Adhiban Baskaran, Sethuraman S.P., and Abhijit Kunte. The guest list also featured IMs Tania Sachdev, Rakesh Kulkarni, Sagar and Amruta Mokal, and several other titled players. Prominent non-playing guests included Anand Deshpande (Vidit’s sponsor and CEO of Persistent Systems), Jeet Banerjee (Tournament Director, Tata Steel Chess India), and Avadh Shah (Country Director, Chess.com India).

Vidit Gujrathi’s upcoming event

Vidit has less than a week before returning to the board, as he gears up for the Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Paris starting April 7. After clinching his spot through a tough three-day qualifier last month, he’s now balancing celebration and preparation. The newlyweds plan to combine the tournament with their honeymoon in Paris. Despite the week-long Indian wedding festivities, Vidit remains upbeat, saying that the joy and positive energy from the celebrations will serve as his preparation—hoping it translates into inspired play at the board.