Queens of the Board: Meet 5 Rising Female Chess Stars of India

By: Ayushi Dutta, Correspondent

Vaishali Rameshbabu: FIDE rating of 2481 as of June 2025

Vaishali Rameshbabu, born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has become a formidable force in the world of Indian chess. Born in 2001, she began her chess journey at the age of seven and quickly rose through the ranks. She earned the Woman International Master (WIM) title in 2016, followed by the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2018. In 2021, she achieved the International Master (IM) title and crossed the 2500 Elo rating threshold at the EI Llobregat pen in Spain, becoming the third Indian woman to attain the Grandmaster title.

Vaishali has also contributed to India's international successes, including winning the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss Tournament in 2023 and becoming the first brother-sister duo to become Grandmasters alongside her brother, R. Praggnanandhaa. In 2024, she was honored with the Arjuna Award, reflecting her status as a leading sports personality and her role in inspiring the next generation of chess enthusiasts.