Following Praggnanandhaa, Sister Vaishali qualifies for the 2024 Candidates Tournament

Vaishali R qualified for the 2024 Candidates Tournament after her victory in the FIDE Grand Swiss event on Isle of Man. R Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali R are currently the most celebrated chess siblings.

New Delhi: Months after R Praggnanandhaa finished second in the 2023 FIDE World Cup, his sister Vaishali R is following her brother’s path to become the world’s most celebrated chess siblings. The development comes after the 22-year-old qualified for next year’s women’s candidates tournament following her victory in the FIDE Grand Swiss event in the Isle of Man on Sunday. Vaishali is just three points away from the 2500 rating to become a Grandmaster.

Vaishali started playing chess as a child as a distraction from cartoons. Soon the sport became a hobby for her and eventually her obsession. Currently pursuing her post-graduation, Sunday’s victory came as a surprise to Vaishali.

“This tournament is the biggest victory of my career so far. I started as the twelfth seed. I didn’t come here with many expectations,” says Vaishali, who manages her academic studies as well as her chess career. Interestingly, it was Vaishali who first started playing chess before Praggnanandhaa came into the picture.

“I started playing chess first… When I was playing at home, Pragg came to disturb me. So my parents got a second chess set at home,” Vaishali told FIDE. Although she is an introvert, Vaishali pushes her aggressive button when it comes to her acting.

“But outside the board, as a person I am an introvert. I don’t socialize much. I prefer my immediate environment. I like to be in my own space,” she says. The Candidates Tournament is an event that determines the challenger of the world champion.