Vaishali Rameshbabu

Vaishali Rameshbabu is an Indian chess Grandmaster born on June 21, 2001, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She is the elder sister of GM Praggnanandhaa, making them the first brother-sister duo in history to both hold the Grandmaster title. Vaishali earned her Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2018, her International Master (IM) title in 2021, and completed her full Grandmaster norms in 2024.

Vaishali made history by becoming the first player, male or female, to win the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss Tournament twice, taking the title in both 2023 and 2025. Her back-to-back victories secured qualification for two editions of the Women's Candidates Tournament (2024 and 2026). She also won a bronze medal at the Women's World Blitz Chess Championship 2024. With a peak FIDE classical rating around 2535, she ranks among the top ten women's players globally.

Beyond the board, Vaishali is an advocate for women in chess and sports. On International Women's Day 2025, she took over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's social media accounts to share her journey and encourage parents to support girls in pursuing their passions. She and Praggnanandhaa became the first sister-brother duo to both qualify for their respective Candidates tournaments, a milestone that captured global attention.

Vaishali competes in the 2026 Women's Candidates alongside Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh, representing a strong Indian contingent. Her playing style combines solid positional understanding with sharp tactical instincts, and she continues to rise as one of the most exciting players in women's chess today.