Samarkand, Uzbekistan, September 16, 2025 – Indian Grandmaster R. Vaishali Rameshbabu has cemented her legacy by winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025, becoming the first player—male or female—to claim the prestigious title consecutively. Securing 8 out of 11 points, Vaishali clinched victory with a hard-fought draw against former Women’s World Champion GM Tan Zhongyi of China in the final round, edging out Russia’s GM Kateryna Lagno on tiebreaks. The triumph earns her a spot in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, positioning her as a frontrunner to challenge for the world title.

The 11-round Swiss-system tournament, held from September 5 to 15 in Samarkand, featured 103 of the world’s top female chess players vying for supremacy and qualification. As the defending champion from the 2023 Riga edition, Vaishali faced intense pressure but started strongly with three consecutive wins. A mid-tournament stumble, including a Round 8 loss to Kazakhstan’s GM Bibisara Assaubayeva, briefly jeopardled doubts. However, the 24-year-old from Chennai showcased resilience, defeating Ukraine’s GM Mariya Muzychuk in Round 10 to regain joint lead.

In the crucial final round, Vaishali, playing Black, employed a Sicilian Defense to hold Tan Zhongyi to a 42-move draw. Lagno’s simultaneous draw against Azerbaijan’s GM Ulviyya Fataliyeva left both players at 8 points, but Vaishali’s better tiebreak—calculated by the average rating of opponents, excluding the lowest-rated—secured her the title. Assaubayeva claimed third place after drawing her final game.

“This win means everything,” Vaishali said at the closing ceremony. “After a tough phase in Chennai with seven straight losses, I nearly withdrew. My brother Praggnanandhaa and family kept me going. With three Indian women—me, Divya Deshmukh, and Koneru Humpy—in the Candidates, 2026 is poised to be a landmark year for Indian chess.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Vaishali on X, stating, “Her passion and dedication are exemplary. Best wishes for her future endeavours.” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich presented her with the winner’s trophy, with her brother Praggnanandhaa, a participant in the open section, by her side.

Vaishali’s qualification strengthens an already formidable Women’s Candidates lineup, alongside Deshmukh and Humpy, following their all-Indian Women’s World Cup final in July. As India’s chess prowess surges, Vaishali’s back-to-back triumphs signal the rise of Indian women in the global arena.