Still have a long way to go: R Vaishali

CHENNAI: As R Vaishali returned to Chennai as the new World Championship Challenger, in the early hours of Sunday, she was still trying to come to terms with the magnitude of the achievement.

The 24-year-old feels she is “living the dream,” but almost in the same breath, insists there is still “a lot more to achieve”.Speaking to TOI, Vaishali made it clear she is hungry for more. “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.

Both (Koneru) Humpy akka and (D) Harika akka, who are really an inspiration for me, have played chess for decades and even after becoming mothers, they are playing at the highest level.

It’s not easy. I hope I’ll also have a long journey like them. There’s a lot more to achieve,” Vaishali said.The mild-mannered girl, who will be the second Indian female to challenge the crown after Humpy (in 2011), hopes moments like these make more girls believe they belong here or take up the sport 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,” the third female GM from the country said.But, almost paradoxically, it was a step away from the board that helped Vaishali get here. Last year had been “very tough” as losses kept piling up and confidence took a hit. Although, she walked into the FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament weighed down and with little to no preparation, it was that very event that turned things around, as Vaishali defended her title and sealed her Candidates spot.Chess is a brutal sport and at times it can take a significant toll on mental health, which is why Vaishali said it is of paramount importance.

“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.But 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 backto-back for this one. I think now we’ll take some break and then start preparing again,” Vaishali said.If Vaishali had her own battles to fight, there was also quiet support coming from close quarters.

Her brother, R Praggnanandhaa, who endured a difficult outing in the Open section of the Candidates, remained a constant presence through her campaign.“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 (the hardto-spot move which almost sealed the win), he could finally breathe.

He was also very tense,” said Vaishali, who, in her own words, prefers not to celebrate in front of opponents who have just lost.Speaking about her coach, Ramesh, who took three flights from Chennai to surprise her in Cyprus and arrived barely five minutes before the award ceremony, Vaishali said they are more like family now.“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, for both me and Pragg. They’ve guided us in every way. 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.”