Total Chess: Women vs elite GMs? Vaishali answers with wins over So, Niemann
Indian Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu achieved notable victories against elite players Hans Niemann and Wesley So at the Total Chess pilot tournament in Budapest. Meanwhile, Magnus Carlsen maintained his dominance by winning the blitz competition unbeaten.
Why it matters
Vaishali's performance challenges gender-based performance assumptions in elite chess, while Carlsen continues to set the standard for the sport.
NEW DELHI: India's Vaishali Rameshbabu made an early statement at the inaugural Total Chess pilot in Budapest, producing two massive victories against established elite grandmasters to answer one of the tournament's biggest questions: how would the women fare in a 24-player field packed with some of the world's strongest players?Vaishali, one of only two women competing in the tournament, defeated American GM Hans Niemann in the opening round before getting the better of four-time US champion Wesley So in round three. The latter victory was particularly eye-catching, considering So's recent form after winning the US Championship for the fourth time just two weeks earlier.The Indian Grandmaster eventually finished the nine-round blitz tournament with four points out of nine.
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Magnus Carlsen Leads Field as Total Chess Tournament Pilot Begins in Budapest
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