Indian chess prodigies make history as first brother-sister duo to achieve grandmaster status
Indian chess siblings create history as the first brother and sister duo to achieve the prestigious grandmaster title Following their family legacy, Vaishali Rameshbabu joins the ranks of elite chess players, solidifying their remarkable contribution to the game
Following in her family's tradition, 22-year-old chess player Vaishali Rameshbabu achieved the grandmaster title on Friday, making her the third woman in India to do so. She carries on the legacy of her family members who have also earned this prestigious title.
Her brother, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, made history in 2018 by becoming one of the youngest grandmasters at the age of 12. According to Chess.com, the siblings have now achieved another milestone by becoming the first brother and sister duo to both attain the title of grandmaster.
Vaishali Rameshbabu, pictured here at a tournament in the Netherlands in January, became a chess grandmaster on Friday.
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Vaishali expressed her joy and relief at achieving her goal of becoming a grandmaster after winning the title at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain. "Becoming a grandmaster has been my goal since I started playing chess," she told Chess.com. "I was so close to it, so I was really excited but also feeling pressure... I'm very happy I finally managed to complete the title."
Achieving the title of grandmaster is a challenging and time-consuming endeavor. Players are required to win three norm tournaments, which have their own specific criteria, and attain a FIDE rating of 2500 or higher.
Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu earned grandmaster status in 2018, an occasion he is seen celebrating in Chennai.
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Vaishali achieved her goal of reaching a 2500 rating after winning three norm tournaments and securing a second-round win in Spain last week. Her brother, a top player in the world, always believed that she would achieve this milestone.
"I've known for a while now that she has had the strength of a GM," he informed FIDE last month as his sister neared the required ranking points.
"It's great to see her finally reaching her rightful place."
