TN’s Vaishali sets sights on getting consistent results

CHENNAI: The first time R Vaishali went to a chess tournament abroad was when she was 10 years old. She travelled to the Philippines alone. After 13 years and many tournaments later, the Chennai girl embarked on her first trip to the US to play the World Rapid and Blitz and her journey has been nothing short of impressive.

Once known as the 12-year-old who beat Magnus Carlsen in a simultaneous exhibition match when the World No 1 came to Chennai back in 2013, she has achieved a lot in her career like earning the GM title, playing a crucial role in the country’s gold medal-winning performance at the Chess Olympiad and recently getting bronze medal in the World Blitz Championship.

“It was my first trip to the US. It was a different experience. There has always been a hype about America among everyone since we were kids, but it was fun to go there and to end it with a bronze medal made it even more special,” the 23-year-old told DT Next.

Despite the good results last year, she believes she needs to improve and start to perform consistently to stay at the top.

“Personally I feel it was a mixed year. Good results here and there, but some tournaments didn’t go well. For example, in the Candidates I lost 4-5 games in a row and then won five again, so it was not particularly good for me but looking to turn things around this year,” she said.

After making headlines all over by clinching the bronze medal recently, Vaishali found herself in the midst of a wide internet storm when her opponent Nodirbek Yakubboev refused to shake her hand due to his religious beliefs in the recently-concluded Tata Steel Chess Tournament’s challengers section.

Following the wave of criticism, Yakubboev met Vaishali and her brother Praggnanandha with flowers and a chocolate to apologise. But Vaishali says that the incident didn’t affect her game.

“I didn’t know it was a big thing back in India. I was focussed on playing the game. But it was a big thing on social media. It did not affect me in any way,” she added.

The World No 16 among women, is up for the classical challenge in the big stage yet again when she would take part in the Norway Chess Open set to begin from May 26 in Stavanger.

She is no stranger to the event as she participated in the open tournament there in 2023 as an IM, chasing a norm for GM title and got invited to the inaugural Norway Chess Women last year.

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“Last year I enjoyed the tournament very well. It was a different atmosphere to play in the same place and see Magnus and other big players compete. Also to go there and compete in the same tournament as a GM the very next year is a good feeling. I was leading till the standings till some point but didn’t end the tournament very well, so got the opportunity to do well this year,” she opined.