R Vaishali claimed the title in the first event of the WR Women’s Chess Tour in Tokyo, Japan, finishing on top in an eight-player rapid tournament just hours after her brother, GM Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, made history by becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title.
The back-to-back successes underline a landmark moment for Indian chess, with two Chennai-born siblings delivering headline results on the same day across elite events. Vaishali’s win also adds momentum to her season as the World Championship challenger, while Praggnanandhaa’s Norway Chess breakthrough further cements India’s presence at the highest level of the sport.
Vaishali tops Tokyo rapid field with strong knockout run
Vaishali shone in the Tokyo rapid event, played with a time control of 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment after every move. She finished ahead of Russians Alexandra Kosteniuk and Kateryna Lagno, and Bulgaria’s Antoaneta Stefanova, the Women’s World Champion from 2004 to 2006.
The field also included Anna Sargsyan, Irine Sukandar, Alua Nurman and Azumi Sakai, making it a compact but competitive eight-player line-up.
The 24-year-old from Chennai sealed the title by defeating IM Alua Nurman of Kazakhstan in the final. Vaishali won the two-game match-up 1.5-0.5, a margin that reflected her consistency through the knockout stages.
Her route to the trophy featured another notable result in the semifinal, where she beat former Women’s World Champion Kosteniuk by the same 1.5-0.5 scoreline. Earlier, in the quarterfinal, Vaishali overcame IM Irene Sukandar, winning one game and drawing the other to again advance 1.5-0.5.
With the rapid title secured, Vaishali will now aim to complete a double in Tokyo. She is set to turn her attention to the blitz event, which starts on Sunday, with the chance to add a second trophy from the opening stop of the WR Women’s Chess Tour.
A podium finish that adds to a big day for Indian chess
Vaishali’s Tokyo triumph came in close proximity to her brother’s milestone win in Norway, creating a rare same-day double of major headlines for Indian chess. While the events were separate, the timing highlighted a surge of Indian success across both the open and women’s elite circuits.
Praggnanandhaa makes history with Norway Chess title
Earlier, Praggnanandhaa scripted what was described as the greatest-ever comeback in a Super Tournament to become the first Indian to win the Norway Chess Championship. He clinched the title by beating Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the 10th and final round of the classical event.
The 20-year-old from Chennai earned the top prize of $100,000. Playing with the white pieces, he capitalised on mistakes by Keymer in the middle game, winning on the 45th move.
Praggnanandhaa finished the tournament with 18 points from five wins, two losses and two draws. Both of his draws were later won in the Armageddon game, underlining how he converted tight situations into crucial points.
He ended a point ahead of overnight leader Wesley So of the United States, who drew with Alireza Firouzja in the final round. So finished with 17 points from two wins and eight draws, winning six of those draws in Armageddon. In the 10th round, Wesley So scored 1.5 points to one against Firouzja.
Together, Vaishali’s Tokyo rapid title and Praggnanandhaa’s Norway Chess crown mark a standout day for Indian chess, with both results reinforcing the country’s growing impact across top-tier international events.