Indian Grandmaster R. Vaishali is gearing up for a memorable experience in London next month. Not only will she make her debut in the prestigious Global Chess League alongside the legendary Viswanathan Anand, but she’s also determined to tick off a personal goal – a ride on the iconic London Eye.
The 23-year-old chess prodigy was a top pick at the league’s player draft in August. The event’s second edition is scheduled to take place from October 3 to 12 at Friends House. Vaishali will be playing alongside Anand for Ganges Grandmasters, a team that will face off against her brother R. Praggnanandhaa’s team, Alpine SG Pipers.
Speaking about the unique opportunity, Vaishali expressed her excitement, “This will be a very special event for me to play alongside Vishy sir in the same team. It is a wonderful opportunity for me. My brother Pragg is on Magnus Carlen’s team, which is great as well. Of course, we won’t compete against each other, but our teams are different.” Anand has played a pivotal role in mentoring both Praggnanandhaa and Vaishali, shaping their chess journeys.
The tournament will follow a double round-robin format where each team will play 10 matches. The winner of each match will be decided by a best-of-six board scoring system, making for an exciting and unique competition. Vaishali described the format as interesting, adding, “To have many strong players in one team, we get to discuss a lot about the game and share ideas. It will definitely help players improve individually.”
Beyond the chessboard, Vaishali has already planned her London adventures. “The last time I visited London was five years ago. Back then, I missed going to the London Eye ride, so it’s the best opportunity for me to visit this time,” she concluded, revealing her eagerness to experience the city’s iconic landmarks.
