In a historic triumph for Indian chess, R. Vaishali has won the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament outright, earning the right to challenge reigning World Champion Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship.
With a final score of 8.5/14, Vaishali delivered a clutch performance in the last round, defeating Kateryna Lagno in magnificent fashion while her closest rival, Bibisara Assaubayeva, could only manage a draw against India’s own Divya Deshmukh.
🧠 A Dream Come True
Speaking at the post-game press conference, an elated Vaishali said:
“It’s amazing, a dream come true for me. When I lost to Zhu Jiner, everything suddenly opened up, and I’m happy I was able to stay focused in the last two rounds and give my best.”
Her final-round victory was a masterclass in precision. Thanks to excellent home preparation, Vaishali won a pawn early in the opening and steadily converted her advantage. Playing the sharp Sicilian Defence Dragon Variation, she scored an impressive 96% accuracy with only a single minor inaccuracy.
🙏 Family, Team & Sacrifices
Vaishali was deeply grateful for her support system:
“I would like to thank my parents and family; without them, I wouldn’t be here. Also, my amazing team, who have helped me every day, and all of my sponsors who have supported me for many years.”
She also opened up about the family’s journey raising two chess prodigies – herself and her younger brother, R. Praggnanandhaa:
“For a family, it’s a long journey to have two professionals at home. My family had to make many sacrifices in the beginning, but for about 10 years now we’ve had support from sponsors. It’s been a collective family effort over many years, and each of us plays a part.”
🔥 Other Results from a Thrilling Final Round
- Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner pushed hard but ultimately drew after a near-flawless battle.
- Aleksandra Goryachkina secured her second consecutive victory, defeating Tan Zhongyi to finish tied for third.
- In the Open Candidates (already won by Javokhir Sindarov), Anish Giri and Fabiano Caruana produced stunning final-round victories over Matthias Bluebaum and Andrey Esipenko respectively. Caruana’s 13…Rxc3! sacrifice was hailed as one of the finest games of his career.
🎉 What’s Next?
Vaishali will now face Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship – a showdown that promises to captivate the chess world. With her historic win, Vaishali joins the ranks of Indian chess greats and inspires a new generation of players.
Congratulations, Vaishali! The nation is proud of you.
