“A Historic Moment for Indian Chess: Vishy Anand Celebrates Vaishali Rameshbabu’s Triumph as Women’s World Championship Challenger”

Vaishali Rameshbabu Shines as World Championship Challenger, with Support from Vishy Anand

Cyprus – In a thrilling display of skill and determination, Vaishali Rameshbabu has emerged as the challenger for the Women’s World Chess Championship, leaving a trail of excitement in her wake. The moment was electrifying, prompting five-time world champion Vishy Anand to exclaim, “Wow! wow! wow!” when Kateryna Lagno resigned, sealing Vaishali’s victory on Wednesday.

As Vaishali secured her winning advantage, Anand joined the chess24 broadcast, expressing his pride in the young talent. “I spent 10 minutes talking with Pragg and his mom before coming here,” he shared, referring to his son, R Praggnanandhaa, who is also making waves in the chess world. “Vaishali showed excellent preparation and resilience. She took the blows and delivered the punches. It’s a proud moment for Indian chess, with two Indians to cheer for in the World Championships.”

The atmosphere was charged with emotion as Vaishali emerged victorious. Her mother, Nagalakshmi, rushed towards her with folded hands, a gesture of heartfelt congratulations, while her brother Pragg joined in for a celebratory family hug before she headed for her post-game interview.

In her interview with FIDE, Vaishali reflected on her journey, revealing the secret behind her comeback. “I wished to win my game today. Earlier, my games were super shaky. I was scoring points out of luck. The loss against Zhu was crucial. Then I started to focus on the quality of my game. I was getting into time trouble but had control of my position. I’m happy to get the desired result,” she said.

Anand praised Vaishali’s performance, stating, “It was just amazing stuff. This was quite a drama today. It shows what Vaishali went through to hold this point. In the end, she was stronger than anyone else. She grabbed the lead and showed a combative attitude even after losing to Jiner. To come back strongly like this is remarkable.”

He continued, “Her preparation in this tournament has been outstanding, amplifying her natural resourcefulness. In every department, she was just amazing.”

Vaishali’s childhood coach, RB Ramesh, who joined the ChessBase broadcast, expressed his joy at seeing his student rise to the occasion. “Both Pragg and Vaishali have always been very dedicated. Sometimes I feel a bit sad that they are unable to socialize, but that is the choice they have consciously made, and they are happy to see their sacrifices rewarded,” Ramesh remarked.

Chess legend Judit Polgar also weighed in, stating, “Vaishali grabbed the opportunity. Especially when you are the lowest-ranked, everyone is hungry to beat you, and Vaishali believed in her preparations and delivered.”

As the chess community celebrates this monumental achievement, all eyes will be on Vaishali as she prepares to take on the world in the upcoming championship. With the support of her family, coach, and the legendary Vishy Anand, the future looks bright for this rising star of Indian chess.