Rameshbabu Vaishali is an Indian chess player from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She is one of India's leading woman chess players and earned the Grandmaster (GM) title, becoming the third Indian woman to do so. She is the elder sister of Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and the two form the first sibling pair in chess history to both hold the Grandmaster title.
| Full name | Rameshbabu Vaishali |
|---|---|
| Born | 2001, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Sport | Chess |
| Federation | All India Chess Federation (AICF) / FIDE |
| Titles | Woman Grandmaster (WGM), International Master (IM), Grandmaster (GM) |
| Coach | R. B. Ramesh (Chess Gurukul) |
| Notable relation | Sister of GM R. Praggnanandhaa |
Vaishali was born and brought up in Chennai. She was introduced to chess as a child, reportedly to reduce television viewing, and her younger brother Praggnanandhaa took up the game after watching her play. Both siblings trained at Chess Gurukul, the academy founded by Grandmaster R. B. Ramesh, who has been their long-time coach. Their mother, Nagalakshmi, is widely associated with the family's tournament travels.
Vaishali rose through the age-group ranks of Indian chess, winning multiple national titles in junior categories. She represented India at several World Youth and Asian Youth Chess Championships, taking medals across age groups in classical, rapid and blitz formats.
Vaishali is known for an aggressive, attacking style with sharp tactical play, often opening with 1.e4 as White. Commentators have noted her preference for open positions and her composure in long classical games.
Vaishali's career is regarded as part of the broader rise of Indian chess in the 2020s, alongside players such as D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Nihal Sarin and her brother Praggnanandhaa. Her qualification for the Women's Candidates and her GM title have been highlighted as milestones in Indian women's chess, following the path opened by Koneru Humpy and D. Harika. The Rameshbabu siblings are frequently cited as an example of a family-driven sporting success story rooted in Chennai's strong chess ecosystem.