Vaishali Rameshbabu: “Chess Makes Me Happy” – A Dream Come True Journey
After winning the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus, Vaishali Rameshbabu shared her thoughts in an emotional interview with Charlize van Zyl.
She spoke about her journey, her games, and her deep love for chess.
A Dream Victory for Vaishali
Vaishali described her win as a dream come true. It was not just her victory—it meant everything to her family as well. She worked hard for years to reach this moment.
The tournament was very close and unpredictable. Even in the final round, many players still had a chance to win.
Final Round Pressure and Smart Preparation
In the last round, Vaishali faced Kateryna Lagno. She did not change her routine. She stayed calm and focused on her own game. Her mindset was simple:
- Play her best
- Ignore outside pressure
- Accept the result
When Lagno played the Sicilian Dragon, it was a surprise. But Vaishali had already prepared for it before the tournament. That preparation helped her stay confident.
Staying Focused Under Pressure
Even though other games were important, Vaishali focused mainly on her own board. She only checked other results briefly. Her main goal was to stay fully concentrated.
Fighting Spirit: Skill + Luck
In the first half of the tournament, Vaishali showed incredible fighting spirit. She saved difficult positions against strong players like:
- Divya Deshmukh
- Aleksandra Goryachkina
She believes her success came from:
- Strong resourcefulness
- Never giving up
- A bit of luck
At this level, even small mistakes are hard to punish. So staying calm and fighting till the end is very important.
Turning Point: Focus on Quality
One key moment came in her game against Tan Zhongyi. Vaishali admitted she played badly but still won. That made her uncomfortable.
She decided to focus on playing good-quality chess, not just winning. This change helped her improve greatly in the second half of the tournament.
Handling Pressure and Emotions
After taking the lead, Vaishali felt huge pressure. She even struggled to sleep. A tough loss against Zhu Jiner brought her back to reality. Surprisingly, it helped her relax and reset.She realized that enjoying the game brings out her best performance.
Strong Support System Behind Success
Vaishali credited her success to her amazing team. Her key supporters include:
- Coach R. B. Ramesh
- Trainer Aarthie Ramaswamy
- Brother R Praggnanandhaa
- GM Pranesh M
They helped her:
- Stay calm
- Prepare better
- Handle pressure
Their emotional support was just as important as chess preparation.
Road to the World Championship
With this victory, Vaishali will now challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship. Ju Wenjun is highly experienced and a multiple-time world champion.
Vaishali knows it will be tough. But she is excited and ready to give her best. She plans to:
- Rest first
- Then prepare seriously
- Improve consistency in her games
Mental Strength Matters
Vaishali has been working with a psychologist for the past 8–9 months. This has helped her:
- Manage pressure
- Stay focused
- Perform better in critical moments
Love for Chess
For Vaishali, chess is more than a profession. She truly loves the game. She enjoys:
- Solving chess studies
- Finding new ideas
- Working for long hours
Sometimes it gets exhausting. But it also makes her genuinely happy. Now, she has learned to balance:
- Hard work
- Rest
- Motivation
Message to Young Chess Players
Vaishali has a simple message for young players:
👉 Enjoy the game
👉 Play many tournaments
👉 Love the process
Success will follow naturally.
Final Thoughts
Vaishali’s journey is inspiring. Her story shows that:
- Hard work matters
- Mental strength is key
- Enjoying the game is powerful
She is now one step away from becoming a World Champion. The chess world will be watching closely.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Yoav Nis, Niki Riga
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
