{"id":43655,"date":"2025-09-10T07:00:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T01:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/?post_type=story&p=43655"},"modified":"2025-09-08T23:30:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T18:00:54","slug":"vaishali-rameshbabu-the-fearless-queen-of-indian-chess","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/vaishali-rameshbabu-the-fearless-queen-of-indian-chess\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaishali Rameshbabu: The fearless queen of Indian chess"},"content":{"rendered":"

(September 10, 2025) <\/strong>When R Vaishali sat across the board from Belarusian Grandmaster Olga Badelka at the ongoing FIDE Grand Swiss 2025<\/a> at Samarkand in Uzbekistan, she had little more than a minute on her clock. For most players, that kind of pressure would be paralyzing. But for Vaishali, India\u2019s third female Grandmaster, the moment demanded courage. With composure and audacity, she played fearlessly, and outplayed Badelka to claim the top spot.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a 56-player Women\u2019s field that\u2019s part of the 172-player Grand Swiss 2025, R. Vaishali holds joint lead, which is an extraordinary feat. Her composed draw against Russia\u2019s Dinara Wagner keeps her firmly in contention for a Candidates spot. With seven rounds still to go, Vaishali\u2019s campaign is emerging as one of the tournament\u2019s defining stories.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Born in Chennai in 2001, Vaishali has carved her path in a sport where India has traditionally celebrated its male champions, from Viswanathan Anand to her own younger brother, R Praggnanandhaa. Yet, with every victory, the Arjuna awardee has proven that she belongs in the elite circles of the chess world.<\/span><\/p>\n

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