Vaishali Rameshbabu is making Indian chess history! The 24-year-old Grandmaster from Chennai successfully defended her FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss title in 2025, securing a spot in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament. The Junior Age has all the details on her victories, milestones, and what makes her one of India’s brightest young sports stars.
Vaishali Rameshbabu Creates History By Winning Double Grand Swiss Champion:
Vaishali Rameshbabu has written a dazzling new chapter in Indian chess. The 24-year-old Grandmaster from Chennai has successfully defended her FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss title in 2025, becoming only the second woman ever to win the event twice in a row. Her victory also confirmed her place in the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, where she will battle for a shot at the world championship crown.
In the final round on the Isle of Man, Vaishali held former world champion Tan Zhongyi of China to a steady draw, finishing with 8.5 points out of 11. That was enough to edge ahead of her closest rivals and lift the trophy once again. Last year, she had stunned the chess world by winning the Grand Swiss for the first time, and now she has proved it was no one-off.
Vaishali’s journey has been extraordinary. She first grabbed attention as a youngster when she beat Magnus Carlsen in a simul at age 12. She went on to win two World Youth titles, became a Woman Grandmaster in 2018, and finally crossed the 2500 rating barrier in 2023 to earn her Grandmaster title. Alongside her younger brother Praggnanandhaa, she has made history as part of the first-ever brother-sister GM duo.
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