Chennai Mom Raises Two Chess Grandmasters from Scratch

A mother's quest to get her daughter away from cartoons just created chess history.

Nagalakshmi, a middle-class mom in Chennai, never planned to raise champions. She just wanted her daughter Vaishali to watch less television. So she signed her up for chess, drawing, and yoga classes to fill the after-school hours.

Within six months, Vaishali showed real talent at chess. Her coach saw something special, and Nagalakshmi listened.

Meanwhile, two-year-old Praggnanandhaa kept interrupting his sister's practice sessions. The chessboard became his favorite toy. Instead of shooing him away, Nagalakshmi recognized his natural curiosity and got him started even younger.

Their father was battling polio at the time. Money was tight. But Nagalakshmi made it work, bringing coaches home when travel became difficult and attending every single tournament as her children's skills grew.

The coach used creative tricks to keep young Pragg motivated. Finish your practice sheets, earn a toy car. Chess became fun instead of pressure.

By age five, Praggnanandhaa was winning district tournaments. Vaishali kept advancing too. Nagalakshmi became their constant companion, traveling to competitions across India and eventually around the world.

Fast forward to 2026, and Praggnanandhaa just became the first Indian to win Norway Chess. Both siblings now hold the title of Grandmaster. They're known globally as the "Golden Chess Siblings."

Why This Inspires

Nagalakshmi never viewed her efforts as sacrifice. She simply paid attention when her children showed interest, then gave them the support to grow. She turned off the TV and opened a door to greatness, not through force or grand plans, but through everyday dedication.

Her approach worked because she focused on the process, not just the wins. After her son's historic Norway Chess victory, she shared her philosophy: "If one enjoys the process and continues to work hard despite setbacks, success will eventually follow."

Two world champions emerged not from privilege or connections, but from a mother who noticed what her children loved and refused to let circumstances crush their potential.