In a historic day for Indian chess, R. Vaishali and Vidit Gujrathi secured victories at the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, marking their qualification for the 2024 Candidates tournament.
Vaishali claimed the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss title with a draw against Mongolia's Batkhuyag Mungutuul in the final round, earning her $25,000 (over Rs. 20 lakh) and a unique place in history as the first brother-sister duo, alongside Praggnanandhaa, to qualify for the Candidates tournament.
The Candidates tournament holds immense importance as it determines the challengers for the World Chess Championship, with the winner earning the right to face the current world champion.
Vaishali is also on the verge of becoming India's third female Grandmaster, needing just a few more points to achieve this prestigious title. In the men's section, Vidit continued his impressive performance, defeating his opponents and expressing his joy, "Without a doubt, this is the highlight of my career so far!"
Importance of the Candidates Tournament
The Candidates tournaments for both men and women serve as qualification events to decide the contenders for the World Chess Championship.
The winners of these tournaments earn the opportunity to challenge the reigning world champion. Notably, the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss Tournament is a part of the qualification process for the Women's Candidates Tournament. In the upcoming edition, Vaishali will be one of the eight players competing in Toronto, Canada.
Vaishali's Path to Grandmaster
Vaishali is edging closer to becoming a Grandmaster, just two points away from this esteemed title.
Her achievement, when realized, will also make her and Praggnanandhaa the first brother-sister duo to reach this milestone.
This would be a significant accomplishment, considering that India currently has only two female Grandmasters: Konery Humpy and Harika Dronavalli.
Humpy became India's first female GM in 2002, and Harika followed suit in 2011. Vaishali's journey to becoming the third would be a remarkable achievement in the world of chess.
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