Making History: Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa Become First Chess Grandmaster Siblings

Vaishali Rameshbabu has made history as India's third female Grandmaster, achieving a rating over 2500 at the 2023 IV Elllobregat Open on Saturday.

This accomplishment also marks a unique milestone as she and her younger brother, chess prodigy Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, are now the first siblings to both hold the title of Grandmaster, as reported by the BBC.

Vaishali's accomplishments, although significant, were somewhat eclipsed by the rapid ascension of her younger brother Praggnanandhaa, who achieved the status of second-youngest Grandmaster in 2018, making him a star.

Vaishali, at 22 years old, is beginning to gain recognition despite her abilities and accomplishments never being in doubt. She earned the title of Woman International Master when she was 15, ascended to Woman Grandmaster at 17, and by 20, she was an International Master.

As reported by the BBC, she holds the distinction of being the first in her family to engage in chess.

She is four years elder to Praggnanandhaa and has recently concluded India's 12-year wait for a female Grandmaster. She is now the third woman to achieve this title, following in the footsteps of Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli.

Their mother, Nagalaxmi, once revealed that her children were spending an excessive amount of time watching television. To counter this, she decided to enroll them in chess classes. This decision marked the beginning of their historic journey in the world of chess.

In a recent interview with the New Indian Express, the siblings' coach, RB Ramesh, discussed their approach to chess.

He noted that both siblings initially shared a similar playing style, which gradually diverged over time.

According to Ramesh, both are extremely diligent and have little interest outside of chess, showing a level of commitment and dedication uncommon for their age group.

He added that they devote numerous hours each day to improving their chess skills, and from a young age, they have been singularly focused on their practice, foregoing traditional schooling.