R Vaishali has made history by becoming the first Indian woman in 15 years to qualify for the Women’s World Chess Championship after winning the Candidates tournament. She will face Ju Wenjun in the championship. Vaishali attributes her success to a supportive team, including five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who has mentored her since she joined the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy. Anand encouraged her to train with Sandipan Chanda, enhancing her preparation. A notable addition to her support system was 19-year-old Pranesh M, who traveled to Cyprus for emotional support and helped lighten the mood during tense moments. Vaishali highlighted that Pranesh's playful demeanor and ability to keep things light were crucial in managing her stress levels. She also credited her long-time coach RB Ramesh and confidant Adhiban Bhaskaran for their unwavering support throughout her journey, although she chose to keep the names of her core team members private for now.