"Vaishali Rameshbabu Makes History as India's Third Female Chess Grandmaster Alongside Brother Pragg

In a historic achievement for Indian chess, Vaishali Rameshbabu has become the third Indian woman to attain the title of Grandmaster. The Chennai-based player secured this milestone by surpassing 2,500 International Chess Federation (FIDE) ranking points at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain. This makes her the third female player from India to achieve this prestigious title, following in the footsteps of Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli.

Vaishali had already fulfilled three GM norms and completed the final requirement on Friday by reaching the necessary number of rating points. Her journey to this accomplishment has been marked by dedication and perseverance, having achieved her first GM norm in 2019, followed by the second in 2022, and finally, the third in the Qatar Open in October 2023.

What adds a unique dimension to Vaishali's success is her familial connection to chess prodigy R Praggnanandhaa, her 18-year-old brother. Together, they make history as the first brother-sister duo to attain the Grandmaster title. This achievement comes after they both qualified for the women's Candidates tournament, further solidifying their impact on the chess world.

Vaishali's coach, RB Ramesh, expressed his pride in her accomplishment, emphasizing the difficulty of achieving Grandmaster status and highlighting Vaishali's impressive form, which also included winning the FIDE Grand Swiss.

The 22-year-old chess player has not only broken a 12-year wait for India to produce its third woman Grandmaster but has also become India's 84th GM. Currently ranked 11th in the world in women's chess with a live rating of 2501.5, Vaishali stands as India's second-highest-ranked female player after Humpy.

Reflecting on her journey, Vaishali acknowledged the inspiration she drew from Humpy and Harika, considering their early achievements in the context of fewer tournament opportunities compared to the present. She expressed her desire to be recognized as one of India's greatest women chess players, breaking free from the shadow of being solely known as "Prag's sister."

Vaishali's brother, Praggnanandhaa, played a crucial role in her success, instilling confidence in her ability to qualify for the Candidates tournament. As the siblings bask in their shared success, the chess world anticipates more accolades from this dynamic duo in the years to come.

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Reference:

newsroompost.com

timesofindia.indiatimes.com