Vaishali Rameshbabu Achieves Grandmaster Title, Establishes Historic Brother-Sister GM Combination

Vaishali Rameshbabu Makes History as First Brother-Sister Grandmaster Duo in Chess

After four months of anticipation, Vaishali Rameshbabu has officially become a grandmaster, solidifying her place in chess history alongside her brother, GM Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu. FIDE recently approved Vaishali’s title application, making her the 84th Indian grandmaster and the 42nd woman from any country to achieve this prestigious title.

Vaishali’s remarkable accomplishment has garnered widespread recognition, with her receiving the Arjuna Award in January and participating in the 2024 Women’s Candidates Tournament last month. In addition to Vaishali, a total of 58 players had their title applications approved by FIDE, including nine grandmasters, two woman grandmasters, 40 international masters, and seven woman international masters.

Among the notable players who joined Vaishali in earning their titles are Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux, Canada’s 15th grandmaster, and 15-year-old Ediz Gurel, the 15th grandmaster from Turkiye. Brewington Hardaway, a 15-year-old IM, leads the list of new international masters, while players like Sina Movahed, Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova, Sarah Papp, and Meruert Kamalidenova are now officially recognized as international masters.

Furthermore, two players, Tijana Mandura and Michalina Rudzinska, attained the title of woman grandmaster, while seven players were awarded the woman international master title, with Yosha Iglesias being the most notable among them. Aydin Gulenay, the youngest player in the group of new WIMs, is part of the growing chess trend in Turkiye.

To earn the grandmaster title, players must achieve a 2500 rating and three norms, with approval decisions made at every quarterly FIDE meeting. While players must formally apply for the title, it is rare for FIDE to deny a title application. The full list of approved titles at FIDE’s first meeting of 2024 can be found on their website.

Vaishali’s achievement marks a significant milestone in the world of chess, showcasing the talent and dedication of players from around the globe.