India’s R Vaishali has etched her name in history by securing the bronze medal in the women’s section of the World Blitz Chess Championship. Displaying exceptional skill and determination, Vaishali triumphed over China’s Zhu Jiner in the quarterfinals with a 2.5-1.5 victory.

However, her pursuit of the gold medal came to an end in the semifinals, where she faced reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun of China. Wenjun showcased her mastery, defeating Vaishali 2.5-0.5. The Chinese grandmaster continued her dominant form in the finals, overcoming her compatriot Lei Tingjie 3.5-2.5 to claim the world title.

Vaishali’s remarkable performance drew praise from Viswanathan Anand, India’s legendary chess player and vice-president of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Anand congratulated Vaishali on her achievement via X, highlighting her journey as a mentee of the WestBridge Anand Chess Academy. “Congratulations to Vaishali for taking bronze. Her qualification was truly a power-packed performance. She has made us immensely proud”, Anand wrote. Reflecting on Indian chess achievements, Anand added, “In 2021, we hoped for stronger players, and now we have it a World Champion (Humpy) and a Bronze medallist (Vaishali)!”

Meanwhile, in the Open section, Norway’s Magnus Carlsen and Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi shared the Blitz title. After three sudden-death games ended in draws, the two agreed to split the championship. Carlsen noted, “It was a long day with intense games, and sharing the win felt like a fitting conclusion”.

Vaishali’s bronze medal is a testament to her talent and perseverance, marking another milestone for Indian chess on the global stage. Her achievement adds to the growing legacy of Indian players excelling in international chess tournaments.