Vaishali draws last round to win FIDE Women Grand Prix 2023

R. Vaishali drew her last-round game against Mongolia’s Batkhuyag Munguntuul to win FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2023 with 8.5 points, happening at the Isle of Man (UK) on Sunday night.

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Earlier on Saturday, Vaishali outwitted former Women’s world champion Zhongyi Tan of China to remain in the sole lead after the end of the 10th and penultimate round and qualify for the Women’s Candidates 2024.

Vaishali, along with her younger brother Praggnanandhaa, became the first brother-sister duo to qualify for the respective Candidates, and they will be in action in Canada next year, fighting for a place in the World Championship finals.

In the FIDE Grand Swiss, India’s Vidit Gujrathi beat Serbia’s Alexandr Predke in the 11th round to win the tournament and join Praggnanandhaa in the Candidates 2024.

Vaishali, who has a live rating of 2497.1, is on the verge of becoming India’s third grandmaster, following Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli. She also has three GM norms and needs only to break the 2500 rating barrier to become India’s latest grandmaster.