Meet Bhagyashree Thipsay, 1st Indian Woman To Get International Chess Grandmaster Title

From great mathematicians to scientists and chess players all successful brilliant minds have been lauded for achieving brilliance through their work, with one similarity amongst all which is being men. Bhagyashree Thipsay is one such great mind whose success and brilliance have not been praised enough. 

Chess Grandmaster Title For Our Chess Queen

From winning the title of Indian Women's Championship five times (1985-1994), Asian Women's Championship in 1991, Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar, Padma Shri in 1986, Arjuna Award in 1987 to finally getting the much anticipated victory in the 28th ‘YMCA National B Women’s Chess Championship’ where she received the title of 'Chess Grandmaster,' she has had a stellar career trajectory throughout.

Bhagyashree was just 12 years old when she started playing chess and that was the kind of chess we have all played with our siblings and parents. It was her father who taught her how to play chess and subsequently that resulted in Bhagyashree defeating him and looking at chess through a competitive lens. Before this she always played with her siblings and father. 

She wanted to pursue chess as a career and with that her first tournament was the 'Annual Sangli Tournament.' According to Be an Inspirer, after crossing the 12th standard limitation, she decided to take chess as her career option and started playing it seriously.

In 1979, she went to ‘Madras National Women’s Chess Championship.’ Although this championship had a steady winner for a record ten years, she was defeated by their excellence. She returned to 8th place. But six years later, she again met with the steady winner of the National Women’s Chess championship and defeated her. After these championships, she played in multiple championships through her career, and she never missed out on any  Olympiad of Chess. She has represented India in nine Chess Olympiads since then and became the first Indian Woman to win the 'International Women's Master' title in 1986 by FIDE (International Chess Federation). 

Bhagyashree is married to Pravin Thipsay who is also a renowned chess player and has won several accolades. Her swift career growth and stellar performances have not only made the entire country proud but impacted many women and young girls  too. Chess is a sport that does not witness many women players (so to say not many sports do) yet it is these tremendous feats by female players that not only garner attention to women sports and competitions but also encouragement for the younger generation and their parents to motivate their children. Bhagyashree Sathe Thipsay will forever remain our Chess Queen!