R Vaishali Returns to Chennai as World Chess Championship Challenger
As R Vaishali arrived in Chennai in the early hours of Sunday, she was still processing the enormity of becoming the new World Championship Challenger. The 24-year-old chess prodigy described herself as "living the dream", yet she quickly emphasized that there is much more to achieve in her career.
A Dream Realized, But Hunger Remains
In an exclusive interview, Vaishali expressed her joy but remained grounded. "It feels nice living my dream, and I’m slowly processing what has happened. It’s been a long journey, and this was one of my dreams. But I still don’t think I have become one of the greatest women chess players from India. I mean, it’s a long way to go," she said. She cited Koneru Humpy and D Harika as inspirations, noting their decades-long careers and resilience even after motherhood. "It’s not easy. I hope I’ll also have a long journey like them. There’s a lot more to achieve," Vaishali added, highlighting her ambition to leave a lasting legacy in Indian chess.
Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Chess Players
Vaishali, who will be the second Indian woman to challenge for the world crown after Humpy in 2011, hopes her success motivates more girls to take up chess seriously. "I hope many girls will get inspired and take up chess professionally. The last few years for Indian women’s chess has been amazing. Humpy akka won the World Rapid Championship a couple of years ago, and Divya Deshmukh won the World Cup. We’ve seen Indian juniors dominating, but Indian women’s chess is different, and it’s nice that we are winning tournaments also. So, I just hope many girls will take it up," stated the third female Grandmaster from India. Her words underscore a growing momentum in women's chess in the country, aiming to break barriers and foster inclusivity in the sport.
Overcoming Adversity: The Role of Mental Health and Support
Paradoxically, Vaishali's breakthrough came after a challenging period away from the board. Last year was very tough for her, with losses piling up and confidence dwindling. She entered the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament with minimal preparation but managed to defend her title and secure her Candidates spot, turning her fortunes around. Chess, she noted, is a brutal sport that can take a significant toll on mental health. "It’s very, very important. I’ve also been working with a psychologist on this. She’s been super helpful for the last 7-8 months now. Initially, when the losses happened, I didn’t know what to do. Because I felt like I was working hard, but the results were not showing. It was very tough," Vaishali explained.
She credited her support system for her resilience. "Thanks to the people around me, my family, my coach RB Ramesh sir and his wife Aarthie. They made me believe that I’ll be rewarded at some point. And special mention to Viswanathan Anand sir and Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA), who continued to support me and help me in every way possible. I’m very grateful to them. So, the last few months, I’ve been training back-to-back for this one. I think now we’ll take some break and then start preparing again," she shared, highlighting the crucial role of mentorship and psychological support in elite sports.
Family Bonds and Coach's Dedication
Vaishali received quiet support from her brother, R Praggnanandhaa, who faced his own struggles in the Open section of the Candidates but remained a constant motivator. "He had a tough event, but he was still motivating me. It felt like we were very close to our dreams. In the last game, for example, we discussed some lines. He is someone who knows me better than anybody else. When I walked out of the playing hall after the win, Pragg and Amma were standing there, and I couldn’t control my emotions anymore. I was very happy. And then Pragg told me that after I played the c4 move, he could finally breathe. He was also very tense," she recounted, showcasing the deep familial connection that fuels her performance.
Her coach, RB Ramesh, demonstrated extraordinary dedication by taking three flights from Chennai to surprise her in Cyprus, arriving just five minutes before the award ceremony. "We’ve also had a long journey; he’s been helping both me and Pragg for close to 11–12 years now. And both Ramesh sir and Aarthie aunty have supported us a lot. It’s more than a trainer-student relationship. They’ve been planning everything for us, even outside chess, for our betterment. This is one dream for him as well. For him to travel all the way, more than 20 hours, and cancel his training plans, it shows how much it means to all of us. It’s incredible," Vaishali expressed, emphasizing the familial bond with her mentors that extends beyond chess.
