Indian chess sensation R. Vaishali has achieved a remarkable feat, successfully defending her Grand Swiss Chess League title – a first for any player across both the open and women’s categories. This triumph in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has also earned her a coveted spot in the upcoming 2026 Candidates tournament.
However, this historic victory almost didn’t happen. The 24-year-old Chennai native initially hesitated to participate, her confidence shattered after a disappointing performance at the Chennai Grandmasters in August. There, she only managed two draws and endured seven consecutive losses. It took the strong encouragement of her mentor and coach, R. B. Ramesh, to convince her to compete.
Reflecting on her journey, Vaishali admitted in an interview with The Hindu, “I honestly forgot I was the defending champion entering the tournament! It had been two years, and with so much happening, particularly the Chennai event’s poor outcome, I didn’t feel like I was returning as the titleholder.”
“I went in with minimal expectations,” she continued. “But Ramesh sir and Karthikeyan Murali emphasized that this was a different playing field compared to the Chennai Grandmasters, which ultimately motivated me to play.”
Interestingly, Vaishali attributes her success to a relaxed approach. “I didn’t undertake any rigorous special preparation. I was simply relaxing at home. Perhaps that shift in mindset made all the difference,” she shared.
The initial victory against IM Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova brought immense relief. “It felt as if I had forgotten the sensation of winning,” Vaishali explained. “Even during the World Cup in July, I often drew classical games, only securing wins in tie-breaks. The Chennai Open was even tougher. So, those first three wins in the Grand Swiss were a massive confidence booster.”
While a loss to Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva in the eighth round threatened to derail her title defense, Vaishali showed incredible resilience. A critical win against Ukraine’s Mariya Muzychuk in the tenth and penultimate round proved to be the turning point.
“I’m particularly pleased that I didn’t succumb to pressure after the defeat against Bibisara; that was incredibly important,” she stated, adding, “I felt fortunate to secure the win against Mariya.”
Looking ahead to the Candidates tournament, Vaishali revealed that she hasn’t made specific plans yet. “My primary goal is to train effectively and ensure I am in the optimal mental state,” she concluded.