R Vaishali’s Team That Helped Clinch Candidates Crown Included A 19-Year-Old To ‘Come Around And Joke’

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 10:11 IST

R Vaishali credits a close support team including mentor Viswanathan Anand, coach RB Ramesh and friend Pranesh for helping her win the Candidates and reach the world title match

R Vaishali won the Women’s Candidates Tournament (X/FIDE)

R Vaishali has revealed that her journey to securing a spot in the Women’s World Chess Championship was powered by a close-knit support system, with contributions from several mentors and fellow players.

After winning the Candidates, she became the first Indian woman in 15 years to earn a direct shot at the world title, where she will face Ju Wenjun.

While R Vaishali chose not to disclose the identities of her official seconds — those who assisted her with deep preparation — she openly acknowledged the wider circle that played a crucial role in her success.

R Vaishali’s Team

Among them was five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored her since selecting her for the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. It was Anand who encouraged her to train with Sandipan Chanda, a partnership that continued until just before the Candidates.

Her long-time coach RB Ramesh also remained a central figure, having guided both Vaishali and her brother R Praggnanandhaa for over a decade. Another unexpected but important presence was 19-year-old Pranesh M, who travelled with her to Cyprus primarily for emotional support.

How Pranesh Helped?

“The plan to take Pranesh along to the Candidates was made because he’s a fun person to be around. The idea was that there would be a lot of tense moments during the Candidates, and he will keep things light,” Vaishali was quoted as saying to ChessBase India.

“There were a lot of high-pressure moments for me. But even after tough games, whenever I went to his room, he would always tell me ‘It’s okay, akka!’ Him coming here was more of a mental thing. And it worked perfectly for me because I prepare a lot but then get tense before the game. He would come around and joke, ‘You’re preparing as if this is a world championship.’”

Away from the board, Pranesh helped her unwind with games like table tennis and paddle. “We’d also play some blitz games when I was trying out some openings,” Vaishali said, before adding with a chuckle: “During the whole tournament, he was always looking for rest days.”

Back home, Adhiban Bhaskaran played the role of a steady confidant. “Anna helped me a lot. Not prep-wise. But I was speaking to him every day of the Candidates,” she said.

However, Vaishali remained tight-lipped about her core team. “For now, I keep their names secret,” she said.

Read More