Date: June 6, 2026
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Indian chess star R Vaishali added another proud moment for the country by winning the first event of the WR Women’s Chess Tour in Tokyo, Japan.
Her victory came just hours after her brother, Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa, created history by becoming the first Indian to win the Norway Chess Championship title. The back-to-back success of the Chennai-based siblings has become a special moment for Indian chess fans.
Vaishali performed strongly in the eight-player rapid chess event, which followed a time control of 15 minutes with a 10-second increment after every move.
In the final, Vaishali defeated IM Alua Nurman of Kazakhstan with a score of 1.5-0.5 in the two-game match. She reached the final after beating former Women’s World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk by the same margin in the semifinal.
Earlier, in the quarterfinal, Vaishali defeated IM Irene Sukandar, winning one game and drawing the other to secure another 1.5-0.5 result.
The tournament featured strong players including Alexandra Kosteniuk, Kateryna Lagno, Antoaneta Stefanova, Anna Sargsyan, Irine Sukandar, Alua Nurman, and Azumi Sakai.
With the rapid title in hand, Vaishali will now aim for a double as the blitz event begins next.
Praggnanandhaa’s Historic Norway Chess Win
Vaishali’s victory came shortly after her brother R Praggnanandhaa achieved a major milestone by winning the Norway Chess Championship.
The 20-year-old Grandmaster from Chennai defeated Germany’s Vincent Keymer in the final round of the classical event. Playing with white pieces, Praggnanandhaa took advantage of mistakes in the middle game and won on the 45th move.
He finished the tournament with 18 points, securing five wins, two losses, and two draws, both of which he won in Armageddon.
With this victory, Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to win the Norway Chess title and claimed the top prize of $100,000.
A Proud Moment For Indian Chess
The achievements of Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa highlight the growing strength of Indian chess on the global stage. Both siblings have consistently represented India with confidence, discipline, and world-class skill.
For Indian sports fans, their success is more than just a tournament result. It reflects the rise of a new generation of chess players who are challenging the best in the world and bringing international recognition to Indian chess.
