New York: Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali delivered a breathtaking performance at the World Blitz Championship, advancing to the quarterfinals and capturing the hearts of chess enthusiasts worldwide. This remarkable feat comes shortly after her compatriot Koneru Humpy’s triumph in the Rapid Championship, where Humpy claimed gold and a $60,000 prize.
Vaishali’s Outstanding Victory
In the women’s division, Vaishali secured a dominant lead with 9.5 points out of a possible 11, complemented by three crucial draws. Her stellar performance outpaced Russian Grandmaster Kateryna Lagno, who finished second with 8.5 points. Despite her strong start, Humpy was eliminated in a tiebreaker and finished ninth, just outside the qualification zone.
“I’m very pleased with the performance today. It’s going to be a huge day. To be honest, the performance came as a total surprise. The outcome today was not what I had anticipated. I have to be ready and well-prepared tomorrow, and then we’ll see,” Vaishali said, reflecting on her achievement.
The Journey to the Quarterfinals
Vaishali’s quarterfinal opponent will be Chinese Grandmaster Zhu Jiner. A series of key victories in rounds 7 and 8 against Georgian GM Nana Dzagnidze and Russian GM Valentina Gunina boosted her momentum. The match against Gunina was especially intense, as Vaishali faced immense time pressure. Despite having just seven seconds per move for a stretch of 23 moves, she persevered, showcasing her resilience and tactical prowess.
“You continue to execute your movements without thinking. I played the game with terrible time management. I continued playing even though she was ahead on the clock and the board, a full pawn up,” Vaishali said.
Indian Rankings and Key Performances
In the women’s category, Vaishali’s 9.5 points placed her first among Indian participants. Other Indian players—Divya Deshmukh, Vantika Agarwal, and D Harika—scored seven points each, ranking 18th, 19th, and 22nd, respectively.
In the Open division, R Praggnanandhaa emerged as the top-seeded Indian with 8.5 points, finishing 23rd. However, he narrowly missed a quarterfinal berth after losing to Russian GM Daniil Dubov in the final round. Despite a strong start, Arjun Erigaisi ended with seven points, ranking 64th.
Global Highlights
In the Open division, Norwegian Magnus Carlsen was among ten players tied for first place with 9.5 points, sharing the spotlight with Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, who claimed the top spot based on tiebreakers. American GM Fabiano Caruana and Carlsen followed closely, securing second and third places, respectively.
The qualifiers for the women’s division included notable names such as Carissa Yip (USA), Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan), Lei Tingjie (China), and Kateryna Lagno (FIDE).
Vaishali’s qualification for the World Blitz Finals underscores her growing prowess on the global chess stage. Her ability to navigate high-pressure situations and deliver decisive performances has not only brought her closer to a potential title but has also inspired chess enthusiasts across India and beyond. All eyes now turn to her quarterfinal match, where she aims to continue her remarkable journey.
