Who Is R Vaishali? Indian Grandmaster Who Won 2026 FIDE Women's Candidates

Last Updated:April 16, 2026, 10:23 IST

Vaishali Rameshbabu will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship after winning the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.

R Vaishali made history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, securing her place in the World Championship with a composed final-round victory in Cyprus. She is the second Indian woman, after Koneru Humpy in 2011, to qualify for the World Championship match.

Vaishali will clash with reigning champion Ju Wenjun for the World Chess Championship title, with the encounter likely to be scheduled later this year.

Who Is Vaishali Rameshbabu?

A consistent performer from Chennai, R Vaishali’s rise has been built on years of steady progress. From winning World Youth titles in 2012 and 2015 to becoming a Woman Grandmaster and then a full Grandmaster in 2023, she has quietly assembled an impressive resume.

She has also contributed to India’s gold medals at the Online Chess Olympiad 2020 and the 2024 Chess Olympiad, along with strong performances in elite events.

All For The Family

Her journey, however, has been shaped as much by perception as by performance. As the elder sister of R Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali was often compared to her younger sibling, a prodigy who captured global attention early. For years, she operated in the background, her achievements overshadowed by the focus on her brother.

That narrative changed decisively with this triumph.

Entering the tournament as the lowest-rated player, she showed remarkable resilience, recovering from setbacks and delivering under pressure when it mattered most.

“It’s amazing, a dream come true for me. When I lost to Zhu Jiner, everything suddenly opened up, and I’m happy I was able to stay focused in the last two rounds and give my best," Vaishali said to FIDE after making history.

“I would like to thank my parents and family; without them, I wouldn’t be here. Also, my amazing team, who have helped me every day, and all of my sponsors who have supported me for many years. Last year, I lost a lot of rating; apart from the Grand Swiss, my results were poor. So, I really have to thank my team for making this possible," she added.

Vaishali opened up on the sacrifices her family made over the years for both her and her younger brother, R. Praggnanandhaa.

“For a family, it’s a long journey to have two professionals at home. My family had to make many sacrifices in the beginning, but for about 10 years now we’ve had support from sponsors. It’s been a collective family effort over many years, and each of us plays a part," she said.

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