Women’s World Blitz Championship 2024: Vaishali clinches bronze as India signs off on a high
India’s R. Vaishali clinched a bronze in the women’s section of the World Blitz Championship, capping another strong performance by the country’s chess players after stalwart Koneru Humpy’s title-winning show in the rapid event here.
Vaishali defeated China’s Zhu Jiner 2.5-1.5 in the quarterfinals before losing to another Chinese opponent Ju Wenjun 0.5-2.5 in the semis.
In an event completely dominated by the Chinese, Ju Wenjun went on to snare the world title defeating compatriot Lei Tingjie 3.5-2.5.
Five-time world champion and International Chess Federation (FIDE) vice president Viswanathan Anand congratulated Vaishali for her efforts, saying it was a great way to end the year.
“Congratulations to Vaishali for taking bronze. Her qualification was truly a power packed performance. Our Waca Chess mentee (WestBridge Anand Chess Academy) has done us proud,” Anand wrote on ‘X’.
“We are so happy to be supporting her and her chess. What a way to wrap up 2024. In 2021, we thought we would get stronger chess players but here we have it a World Champion (Humpy) and a Bronze medallist (Vaishali)!” he wrote.