Vaishali Scripts History: From Prodigy to Candidates Champion!

Indian chess star R Vaishali has etched her name in history by winning the prestigious Candidates Chess Tournament, marking a remarkable milestone in her career. Once known as the elder sister who introduced her younger brother R Praggnanandhaa to chess, Vaishali has now surpassed expectations to achieve a feat unmatched by any other Indian woman. Her journey began at a young age when her father encouraged her to take up chess, and she stunned the world at just 12 by defeating then world champion Magnus Carlsen in an online game.

Trained under Grandmaster Ramesh and later at the WestBridge Academy led by Viswanathan Anand, Vaishali steadily climbed the ranks. She became a Grandmaster in 2023, following consistent performances, including a Swiss Grand Prix title. In the latest Candidates Tournament held in Cyprus, she displayed exceptional composure and skill, defeating top contenders like Anna Muzychuk and Aleksandra Goryachkina. With this victory, Vaishali has positioned herself as a strong contender for the World Championship, raising hopes of becoming India’s first-ever woman world chess champion.