According to a video posted on his social media account, R Praggnanandhaa and his sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, are both accomplished chess players, but there is no sibling rivalry between them.
“There is no rivalry. We discuss a lot of chess. It helps both of us. We don’t really play a lot of games anymore. More of a discussion, sharing ideas. Yeah, when it comes to chess, we are serious,” Praggnanandhaa said.
“People often ask if there’s sibling rivalry between me and Akka… but honestly, it’s more about bonding than competing. We don’t play many games against each other — we just talk a lot about chess, share ideas, and help each other grow. At the end of the day, we’re just like any other siblings — sometimes serious, sometimes silly, but always there for each other,” he added as a caption of the video.
When asked if the two siblings' approaches to a game differed, Pragg stated that Vaishali attacks while he concentrates more on the technical side of things.
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“I am more of a technical player. Even though I think I am good at everything, I still have an inclination towards technical play. But she is more of someone who likes attacking. When I was growing up, I was such a player but now, I am inclined towards the technical aspects. Not that I do it on purpose but whatever the position demands, I try to play,” he said.
Vaishali qualified for the FIDE Women's Candidates tournament after winning the FIDE Women's Grand Swiss championship last week. With Lei Tingjie winning the first edition in 2021, Vaishali has now won the title twice in the event's three editions.
“So proud of you, akka! Winning the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss is such an incredible achievement. The confidence and determination you’ve shown throughout the tournament has been truly inspiring. Big congratulations on this amazing victory!,” Pragg had posted on X at that time.
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