Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 9: In Tamil, the word “Anna” means elder brother – someone who stands by you, not necessarily by blood but by bond. For India’s Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, that role was played perfectly by fellow chess player Karthikeyan Murali, fondly known as “Karthi Anna.”

After a disappointing run at the Chennai Grand Masters, where she scored only one point and suffered seven consecutive losses, Vaishali had decided to skip the Women’s Grand Swiss – the very tournament she had won earlier. “I felt so bad. Losing seven games in a row was hard to recover from,” she admitted in a candid chat with ChessBase.

That’s when “Karthi Anna” quietly stepped in. On the advice of their childhood coach RB Ramesh, Karthikeyan reached out to her, not with chess advice, but with words of encouragement. Their long Tamil conversations were less about moves and more about motivation.

“Thanks to Karthi Anna, we had a long call, and somehow he convinced me to play in the Grand Swiss. I am very grateful to him,” Vaishali shared later.

Her decision paid off spectacularly — Vaishali went on to defend her title at the Grand Swiss and secured a berth in the Women’s Candidates 2026. Karthikeyan, who was competing in the same venue, could only smile as his belief in her came true.

The 26-year-old Grandmaster’s own journey has been one of grit and patience. “When I was about ten, my dad had surgery and was on bed rest. We played checkers, carrom, and chess. I got more interested in chess than anything else — that’s how it began,” he recalled in an interview.

Financial struggles marked his early years. “The hardest part wasn’t chess itself; it was getting support for tournaments. We managed everything on our own until I got a job in 2017. Things got easier after that,” he said.

Even at the recent Chennai Grand Masters, fate had another surprise for him. Initially slated to play in the Challenger section, Karthikeyan was moved to the Masters category after another player withdrew — and he went on to finish fourth.

Reflecting on his journey, he added, “Whatever resources you get, no matter how small, make full use of them. Even little things can have a huge impact.”

From a boy playing chess during his father’s recovery to a Grandmaster who helped reignite a champion’s spirit — Karthikeyan Murali’s story reminds us that sometimes, the quietest support can lead to the loudest victories.