Images and clips circulating online show Vaishali proudly displaying the Women’s Candidates trophy, sparking excitement about her upcoming match against China’s five-time world champion, Ju Wenjun. This achievement fills many with national pride, yet the path for the 24-year-old Indian grandmaster was challenging.
In an earlier report, we discussed the 2025 Chennai Grandmasters event, where Vaishali competed in the challengers category. She struggled significantly, ending at the bottom of the standings with no victories and just two draws in 10 games.
The tournament concluded on August 16, 2025, leaving scant time before the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss started on September 2. Despite qualifying for the Candidates by triumphing in the Grand Swiss, Vaishali initially refused to participate due to shattered confidence from her Chennai performance.
Her coach, RB Ramesh, along with her brother R Praggnanandhaa and parents, urged her to compete in Uzbekistan. When their efforts failed, RB Ramesh reached out to Karthikeyan Murali, India’s 38th grandmaster and a family acquaintance.
In an exclusive interview, the 27-year-old Karthikeyan described the challenge. He understood her low morale after failing to win any games in Chennai, which severely impacted her self-assurance.
Karthikeyan engaged in a two-hour phone conversation to encourage her. He emphasized freeing herself from outcome pressures and noted that she avoided chess entirely for 15 days before the event. This break proved crucial, allowing her to approach the tournament with renewed mental clarity.
Vaishali arrived in Uzbekistan revitalized, clinched the Grand Swiss, and advanced to the Candidates. After initial draws and uneven results, a key victory in round seven against Tan Zhongyi boosted her momentum.
With the Candidates now behind her, Vaishali faces Ju Wenjun in the world championship. Karthikeyan highlighted areas for caution as she prepares for this ultimate test.
