International Master R Vaishali beat former world champion to qualify for FIDE Candidates

Indian Chess Grand Master and 2023 World Cup Chess runner-up R. Praggnanandhaa's elder sister R Vaishali has been selected to play in the 2024 FIDE Candidates Series. The FIDE Grand Swiss 2023 Tournament is held in the Isle of Man, UK.

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The 2024 FIDE Candidates Chess Series will be held from October 23 to November 6. It is part of the World Championship qualifiers. 11 rounds will be played under the Swiss division. 164 players from all continents are participating in this. The top two finishers at the Grand Swiss will qualify for the 2024 Women's Candidates Series.

Meanwhile, R. Vaishali defeated former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria in the first round of the FIDE Grand Swiss 2023. Thus she took the lead with 7 points. Vaishali then faced former women's world champion Tan Zhongyi of China and defeated her. After that, Vaishali, who won the 10th round and gained a lead of 7.5 points, has been selected to play in the FIDE Candidates Chess series.

Ukraine's Anna Muzychuk is leading with 8 points. Also, Vaishali is still one game away from winning the women's division of the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament.

Earlier Vaishali's brother Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa qualified for the 2024 FIDE Candidates with his silver medal-winning performance at the FIDE World Cup in August. Praggnanandhaa is the third youngest player after Bobby Fischer and Carlsen to qualify for the Candidates tournament.

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Now after Vaishali's outstanding performance at Grand Swiss, they became the first sibling pair ever to make it to both men's and women's FIDE Candidates tournaments together. Vaishali now stands a chance to earn a Grandmaster title on Sunday if she wins with the Black in the final round.

Meanwhile, in the men's category, Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi leads with ladder board along with Hikaru Nakamura and Andrey Esipenko with 7.5 points going into the last round. Vidit beat Bogdan-Daniel Deac on Saturday. As a historic feat, there were seven decisive results on the top seven boards.