‘When It Turned Into Mocking My Family…’: Indian Chess GM Vidit Gujrathi Hits Back at ‘The Liver Doc’ Dr Cyriac Abby Philips

Indian Chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi's online debate with renowned hepatologist Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as “The Liver Doc,” has escalated even further following the latest post by the chess player.

In his latest post on X, Vidit wrote," I made a simple post out of gratitude. I chose silence at first, because not every conversation deserves a response. But when it turned into mocking my family, I stepped in. If that means stepping out of my lane, so be it.”

He concluded with a firm statement, “You and trolls like you don’t get to decide who’s a doctor. You have no authority to define others’ lives or dismiss their work. I’ve said my part. Now, back to what actually matters. No time for noise.”

Timeline of Vidit Gujrathi's online spat with Dr Cyriac Abby Philips

The online debate began on July 1, Doctor’s Day. Vidit Gujrathi shared a selfie with his family, his father, mother, wife, and sister, along with the caption “Happy Doctor’s Day to my entire family.”

In response to the post, one user on X (formerly Twitter) asked about the family’s professional specialities. Vidit replied, “My father is an Ayurvedic migraine specialist, my wife is an MD homoeopathy, my mom does cosmetology, and my sister is a physiotherapist.”

The post caught the attention of Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, who reshared it with a sharp comment, “I am sorry, but none of them are really doctors.”

Initially choosing silence, Vidit eventually responded to Dr. Philips with a strong message

“Your entire brand and personality is built on insulting others. While you chase retweets by tearing people down, my family quietly heals lives without needing a spotlight. They’ve helped more people than your ego can count. Stay in your lane. And for a change, try being useful.”

Dr Philips defends His Stand

Dr. Philips posted a lengthy response, stating that he did not intend to insult Gujrathi’s family but stood by his criticism. He explained that calling non-MBBS practitioners “doctors” misleads public health discussions.

He wrote that Ayurveda, homoeopathy, and cosmetology do not fall under clinical medicine and added that his objection was based on protecting scientific integrity. He accused Vidit of ignorance and advised him to avoid spreading medical misinformation, concluding that the chess player should stick to his own domain.

The exchange has left social media users divided. Some support Dr. Philips' emphasis on scientific and clinical standards, while others argue that healing professions beyond MBBS should also be respected