Anand Praises Vaishali's Nerve Control After Historic Candidates Victory
Indian chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand has praised Vaishali Rameshbabu for her exceptional composure and nerve control following her victory in the Women’s Candidates tournament in Cyprus. Despite entering the eight-player field as the lowest-rated participant, Vaishali gained 26 ELO points during the two-week competition, emerging as the winner while most rivals lost rating. This historic achievement makes her only the second Indian woman, after Koneru Humpy in 2011, to qualify for the Women’s World Championship. Anand, who selected Vaishali for his Westbridge Anand Chess Academy five years ago, highlighted her tactical abilities, resilience, and self-belief. He noted that despite a slow start and difficult losses, including defeats to Zhu Jiner, Vaishali maintained calmness in unpredictable games. Her ability to stay composed under pressure distinguished her from the rest of the field in what Anand described as a highly combative tournament. This victory marks a significant milestone for Indian women's chess, capping a challenging two-year period for Vaishali with her career's biggest success.
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Anand Praises Vaishali's Nerve Control After Historic Candidates Victory
Indian chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand has praised Vaishali Rameshbabu for her exceptional composure and nerve control following her victory in the Women’s Candidates tournament in Cyprus. Despite entering the eight-player field as the lowest-rated participant, Vaishali gained 26 ELO points during the two-week competition, emerging as the winner while most rivals lost rating. This historic achievement makes her only the second Indian woman, after Koneru Humpy in 2011, to qualify for the Women’s World Championship. Anand, who selected Vaishali for his Westbridge Anand Chess Academy five years ago, highlighted her tactical abilities, resilience, and self-belief. He noted that despite a slow start and difficult losses, including defeats to Zhu Jiner, Vaishali maintained calmness in unpredictable games. Her ability to stay composed under pressure distinguished her from the rest of the field in what Anand described as a highly combative tournament. This victory marks a significant milestone for Indian women's chess, capping a challenging two-year period for Vaishali with her career's biggest success.
The Indian Express