A formal complaint against Pragg and Vaishali!

by Rasika Ratnaparkhi - 09/06/2026

Praggnanandhaa wins Norway Chess. Vaishali wins the WR Women's Chess Tour in Tokyo. Parents everywhere are impressed. Siblings everywhere are worried. The golden siblings of Indian chess have achieved so much that they have accidentally raised the bar for brothers and sisters across the world. Shortly after their achievements, we received an unexpected letter. We publish this letter in this article for our readers.

A concerned younger brother, elder sister, middle child, and basically every sibling on Earth!

Dear Vaishali and Pragg,

We need to talk! This has gone too far. For years, siblings around the world had a system. Your parents would compare you with Sharma Ji's son. Annoying? Yes. Manageable? Maybe. Most Sharma Ji's sons were only slightly better than us. They scored a few more marks. They woke up earlier. Okay, and many more...

But then you two arrived! And now parents have discovered a completely new category of comparison. "Look at Pragg and Vaishali."

Excuse me?

How exactly are we supposed to compete with that? Let's review the evidence.

One day, your parents decide to introduce both of you to chess. And it somehow turned into a family project. Pragg, you started beating elite players. Then you started beating Magnus Carlsen. Then you win Tata Steel Masters. Then you become India's number one-rated player. Then you win the FIDE Circuit and qualify for the Candidates. Then you become the first Indian ever to win Norway Chess. At this point, most people would sit down, relax and enjoy life. But not you, Pragg!

Meanwhile, Vaishali, you decided that being one of India's strongest women players isn't enough. You won FIDE Women's Grand Swiss. Then you won the Women's Candidates. Now you get to challenge for the Women's World Championship. And just a day after Pragg wins Norway Chess and sends Indian chess fans into celebration mode, you won the inaugural WR Women's Chess Tour event.

Most families need a few months between major achievements. But you guys apparently prefer a turnaround time of a few hours. Do you know what happens in our homes because of this? Dad enters the room. He doesn't say hello. He doesn't ask how school was. He opens YouTube. Shows us a Pragg interview. And says: "See how humble he is." Five minutes later he shows a Vaishali interview. "See how disciplined she is." Ten minutes later he shows another video. "See how supportive they are of each other."

The worst part? The two of you don't even help us build a case against you. Most siblings fight. Most siblings argue over television remotes. Most siblings refuse to share snacks. You two seem genuinely happy whenever the other succeeds. How is anyone supposed to use that as an excuse? Parents love that. They absolutely love that.

At this point I am convinced neither of you has ever forgotten a charger, missed a bus, or left wet towels on the bed. There is another issue. Your parents. Can someone please explain what kind of parenting factory produced this outcome? One child becoming a Grandmaster is already a statistical miracle. Two children becoming Grandmasters is ridiculous.

Somewhere in Chennai there is a household where the family dinner conversation probably sounds like:

"How was your day?"

"Oh, I qualified for a World Championship match."

"Nice."

"And you?"

"I won Norway Chess."

"Very good. Pass the sambar."

Meanwhile, in our homes:

"How was your day?"

"I went to buy groceries."

"Good."

The gap is enormous! Yet, despite all our complaints, there is one problem. We secretly love watching both of you. Because every achievement feels bigger! Pragg, your rise has shown that Indian players can compete with absolutely anyone. Vaishali, you have inspired thousands of girls to imagine themselves on the biggest stage in chess.

So yes, we are filing this complaint. You have made life unnecessarily difficult for siblings everywhere. The comparisons are relentless. The standards are unrealistic. The pressure is unbearable.

But no, we are not actually filing a complaint. We are filing an appreciation letter disguised as a complaint. Because while you have made life difficult for siblings everywhere, you have also given us something far more valuable. Proof that extraordinary things are possible. Proof that family support matters. And proof that two children from the same home can dream big enough to inspire an entire nation!

Keep going, Vaishali and Pragg! Indian chess is enjoying the ride. :)

Sincerely,

Every sibling on Earth.

Disclaimer: This is a fictional letter. Any resemblance to conversations at your dinner table is purely coincidental.

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