Indian chess is preparing for a historic new chapter. For the first time, both the men’s and women’s World Chess Championship matches will feature Indian challengers at the highest level of the game. While reigning world champion D Gukesh is set to defend his crown against Uzbek prodigy Javokhir Sindarov in the open category, the women’s championship will witness another landmark moment. Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali has earned the right to challenge reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun after scripting history at the Candidates Tournament.
Vaishali’s triumph in Cyprus is more than just a tournament victory. It is the culmination of years of perseverance, silent hard work, emotional resilience, and the determination to emerge from the shadow of expectations. By becoming the first Indian woman to win the Candidates Tournament, the Chennai-born grandmaster has firmly established her own identity in world chess.
From “Praggnanandhaa’s Sister” to a Star in Her Own Right
For years, Vaishali’s name was often mentioned alongside that of her younger brother, R Praggnanandhaa. The rise of Praggnanandhaa as a global chess sensation naturally drew enormous media attention, and despite being an elite player herself, Vaishali was frequently introduced merely as “Praggnanandhaa’s sister.” Yet those who followed Indian chess closely always knew that Vaishali possessed immense talent and mental strength. Her achievements at the junior level had already hinted at a bright future, but competing consistently at the elite level required another leap altogether.
That leap finally came emphatically at the Candidates Tournament. Entering the competition in Cyprus, Vaishali was widely viewed as an underdog. Among all the participants, she had the lowest rating. Few experts predicted she could go all the way and become champion. The field included several experienced and highly rated players, making her task even more difficult. But throughout the tournament, Vaishali displayed remarkable composure. She stayed focused on every round, handled pressure intelligently, and gradually transformed herself from an outsider to a genuine title contender.
The Road to the Candidate's Crown
Vaishali’s qualification for the Candidates itself reflected her consistency. Just as she had done in 2024, she once again won the prestigious Grand Swiss tournament in 2025 to secure her berth. That achievement alone demonstrated her ability to compete with the best in the world. However, the Candidates Tournament represented an entirely different challenge. Every game carried enormous pressure because the winner would earn the opportunity to play for the world title. The turning point of the event came during the latter stages of the tournament.
In the 12th round, Vaishali suffered a difficult defeat against Chinese player Zhu Jiner. The loss threatened to derail her campaign and increased the pressure dramatically heading into the final rounds. Before the decisive 14th round, Vaishali was tied for the lead on 7.5 points alongside Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva. The equation was simple but brutal: Vaishali needed to win her final game and also hoped for Assaubayeva to drop points. It was the kind of situation that tests not only chess ability but emotional stability.
The Final Round: Calm Under Pressure
Playing with the white pieces in the final round, Vaishali faced experienced Russian grandmaster Kateryna Lagno. Indian fans followed every move anxiously, aware that history was within touching distance. Vaishali responded magnificently. She controlled the tempo of the game from the beginning and never allowed the initiative to slip away. Maintaining extraordinary composure, she gradually tightened her grip before eventually defeating Lagno to reach 8.5 points.
Yet her destiny still depended partly on another board. That is where fellow Indian star Divya Deshmukh played a crucial role. Divya held Assaubayeva to a draw in the final round, preventing the Kazakh player from overtaking Vaishali in the standings. As a result, Assaubayeva finished second with 8 points, while Vaishali emerged as the undisputed champion. The victory immediately became one of the biggest moments in Indian women’s chess history.
Anand’s Praise and India’s Golden Era
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand was among the first to praise Vaishali’s achievement. Anand, who has mentored several young Indian players through the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy, highlighted the maturity and calmness Vaishali displayed throughout the tournament. According to Anand, Vaishali looked confident throughout the event, worked hard, remained patient, and showed tremendous emotional control in difficult situations. He described himself as proud of her achievement.
His words carry enormous significance because Anand has played a central role in shaping India’s modern chess revolution. Today, India is no longer dependent on a single superstar. Instead, the country boasts a remarkable generation of elite players capable of competing for world titles across multiple categories. With Gukesh already world champion and Vaishali now earning a shot at the women’s crown, Indian chess has entered an unprecedented era.
A Difficult Year Before the Breakthrough
What makes Vaishali’s triumph even more inspiring is the adversity she endured before this breakthrough. By her own admission, 2025 had not gone according to plan. Results were inconsistent, confidence occasionally wavered, and she struggled to find clarity about her direction. For a player competing at the highest level, such phases can become mentally exhausting. Vaishali openly acknowledged those struggles after her victory. She admitted that the previous year had been extremely difficult and that she often felt uncertain about what she should do next. Chess, she explained, is her entire life, and despite her dedication, the desired results were not arriving. Instead of giving up, however, she focused on rebuilding herself mentally.
She credited yoga, meditation, and psychological support for helping her regain stability and confidence. Those efforts proved crucial during the Candidates, where emotional resilience mattered as much as technical preparation. Vaishali also pointed out that she entered the tournament as the lowest seed and carried her own doubts about how far she could go. Yet by surviving several difficult games and pressure-filled moments, she gradually began believing that she truly belonged among the world’s elite. That belief eventually carried her to the title.
The Challenge Ahead: Ju Wenjun
Now an even greater test awaits. Vaishali will challenge reigning women’s world champion Ju Wenjun, one of the most consistent and accomplished players in modern chess. The Chinese grandmaster possesses immense experience at the highest level and has successfully defended her title multiple times. For Vaishali, the championship match will represent the biggest opportunity of her career. But after the way she handled pressure in Cyprus, few will underestimate her again.
Her Candidates triumph has already transformed perceptions around her. No longer viewed merely through the lens of family connections, Vaishali now stands as one of the leading faces of Indian chess herself. As India prepares for world championship battles in both the open and women’s divisions, Vaishali’s rise symbolizes something larger than individual success. It reflects the arrival of Indian chess as a genuine global powerhouse.
