A look at three chess female grandmasters from India

Published at :December 7, 2023 at 8:00 AM

Modified at :December 14, 2023 at 10:26 AM

(Courtesy : FIDE/Ismael Nieto)

Koneru Humpy was the first female Grandmaster from the country.

In a historic moment for Indian chess, Vaishali Rameshbabu recently achieved the distinguished status of becoming the country’s third female Grandmaster. This remarkable milestone unfolded during the IV Elllobregat Open, where she exceeded FIDE rating of 2500, solidifying her place among the elite Grandmasters. Vaishali joins the ranks of Koneru Humpy and Harika Dronavalli as one of India’s female Grandmasters.

Here is a look at India’s chess female grandmasters

Vaishali Rameshbabu

Vaishali’s rise began with her attainment of Woman International Master (WIM) status at the age of 15, followed swiftly by becoming a woman Grandmaster at 17 and an International Master at 20. Alongside these accolades, she boasts the impressive distinction of being a two-time Youth Chess Champion.

Her quest for the Grandmaster title was marked by consistent triumphs. The journey commenced with her initial norm at the Xtracon Open in 2019, followed by a second at the 8th Fischer Memorial in 2022. The culmination of her pursuit materialized at the Qatar Masters in 2023, where she clinched her third and final GM Norm, etching her name into the annals of Indian chess history.

Vaishali Rameshbabu along with her younger brother Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu are now the world’s first chess siblings pair to have earned the GM title and will mark their debut in Candidates tournament in 2024.

Harika Dronavalli

At the age of 12, Harika became the youngest WIM in Asia. She won team bronze and individual gold at the 2003 Asian Women Team Championship before capturing her first and second WGM and IM norms. In 2004, Harika became the youngest WGM in India – at 13 years old by winning the Commonwealth Under-18 Championship. Furthermore, she earned her final WGM norm and later in 2007 added the IM title playing in the International Open Tournament.

In 2011, Harika won gold at the Asian Women Chess Championship and took silver at the Commonwealth Women’s Chess Championship. She scored 5.5/9 points at the 2011 Women Grandmaster Chess Tournament held in China, securing her third and final GM norm.

This accomplishment made the teenager the second woman in India to become a Grandmaster. The following year Harika entered FIDE’s top 25 ranked women, and in 2014 she entered the top 10—she hasn’t departed either list since.

GM Harika Dronavalli is a three-time bronze medal winner in the Women’s World Chess Championship and one of the top players in women’s chess. She has three world youth titles in the under-12, under-18, and junior girls sections, and she won the women’s national chess championship of India at the age of 18.

She has been honored Arjuna Award in the year 2007 and Padma Shri in the year 2019 for her excellence and contributions in the field of chess.

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Koneru Humpy

Koneru Humpy achieved the title of Grandmaster at the age of 15 years, 1 month, and 27 days, making her the youngest female player to achieve this title at that time. (Hou Yifan later subsequently broke the record in 2008). She accomplished this feat in January 2002. After taking the world by storm by clinching the World Chess titles in the Under 10, Under 12 and Under 14 age groups, Humpy achieved International Master title in the year 1999 at the age of 12 years.

Further, she achieved her third Grand Master norm in the Elekes Memorial Grand Master Tournament held at Budapest, Hungary. Humpy won the World Junior Chess Championship for girls, showcasing her exceptional talent and potential at a young age. The athlete from Andhra Pradesh has participated in multiple women’s World Chess Championships and has consistently performed well.

She reached the semifinals in the 2001 and 2004 editions and made it to the final in the 2008 Women’s World Chess Championship, finishing as the runner-up. Koneru Humpy has been successful in the Asian Women’s Chess Championship. She won the tournament in 2003 and 2005, establishing her dominance in the Asian chess circuit. She has won the Commonwealth Chess Championship multiple times in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2019 – solidifying her status as one of the top female chess players in the Commonwealth nations.

Humpy has represented India in numerous Chess Olympiads and Asian Games. In Doha 2006, she has won gold in individual and mixed team event. In 2022, Hangzhou Asian Games, she won team silver. She has significantly added to the success of the Indian team, winning several medals, both team and individual, in these prestigious events.

In 2019, Koneru won Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship, and gained the attention of chess fraternity from all around the world. She also won the Cairns Cup in 2020 and had a great come back after the break she took. Humpy has been honored with several accolades for her outstanding achievements in chess. She received the Arjuna Award in 2003, recognizing her contributions to Indian sports. In 2007, she was awarded the Padma Shri – India’s fourth highest civilian award, for her accomplishments in the field of chess.

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