'I’m Living My Dream': Vaishali R Bursts Out Of Pragg's Shadow With Historic Candidates Win | EXCLUSIVE

Last Updated:April 18, 2026, 10:04 IST

In an exclusive interaction with News18, R Vaishali opened up about her historic Candidates win, her upcoming world title clash with Ju Wenjun, and how she's the underdog no more.

“Definitely, this is the best win of my career so far… it’s one of my dreams."

That dream became reality on the Mediterranean shores of Cyprus, where R Vaishali scripted history by winning the 2026 Women’s Candidates, becoming the first Indian woman to do so and earning a shot at the world title.

And in an exclusive interaction with News18, Vaishali opened up about her journey.

Vaishali’s Grind To The Top

Entering as the lowest-rated player in a stacked field, Vaishali wasn’t expected to contend, let alone win.

But as she put it, that worked in her favour:

“I think being the underdog is nice… my best comes when I’m not playing under pressure," Vaishali stated.

The title wasn’t entirely in her hands. She needed help, and got it when her Indian compatriot Divya Deshmukh held a surging Bibisara Assaubayeva to a draw.

Then came her moment.

Facing Kateryna Lagno in a must-win clash, Vaishali delivered under extreme pressure to edge out the Uzbek and secure the title by half a point.

The Team Behind Vaishali’s Triumph

Behind the scenes, this was far from a solo act.

From family sacrifices to a tight-knit training team, Vaishali leaned heavily on her support system, especially during moments when she nearly skipped key tournaments before qualifying.

“After the Chennai Challengers, it was very tough. At one point, I even decided not to play the Grand Swiss. But at the last moment, I changed my mind and winning that event is what got me here."

“Even in this tournament, I lost games. But I had a strong support system — my parents, Praggnanandhaa, my training team — everyone helped me in every way possible."

“Out of the Shadow"

For years, she was seen as “Praggnanandhaa’s sister."

“Earlier, it used to bother me that people didn’t know I was also a player. I was a WGM, but people didn’t recognise it. Over time, I got used to it."

But now, she’s carved her own identity, away from the shadows of her brother — as a world championship contender.

“Becoming world champion has always been a dream… I feel like I’m living it."

What’s Next

Next up: a showdown with reigning world champion Ju Wenjun, a battle that promises to test her like never before.

“She’s one of the strongest players and has a lot of match experience, and she’s won the world championship multiple times."

“It’s going to be tough, but I’m super excited. I’ve always watched world championship matches, and now I’ll be playing in one. I have time to prepare, work on my weaknesses, and give my best."

News sports chess 'I’m Living My Dream': Vaishali R Bursts Out Of Pragg's Shadow With Historic Candidates Win | EXCLUSIVE

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