Vaishali Wins Women’s Candidates 2026, Set to Face Ju Wenjun for World Title
Rameshbabu Vaishali has achieved a historic milestone. She won the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament with a score of 8.5/14.
With this victory, she will now challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship.
Final Round Drama Seals the Title
The final round was full of excitement. Vaishali defeated Kateryna Lagno with a brilliant performance. At the same time, Bibisara Assaubayeva could only draw against Divya Deshmukh.
This result opened the door for Vaishali—and she made full use of the opportunity.
Perfect Preparation and Clinical Finish
Vaishali showed excellent preparation in the opening. She gained an early pawn advantage and never let it go.
She handled the complex Sicilian Defence – Dragon Variation with great accuracy. Her performance was nearly flawless, scoring an impressive 96% accuracy. It was one of her best games of the tournament.
A Dream Come True
After the game, Vaishali shared her emotions. She called the victory a “dream come true.” She also mentioned how she stayed focused in the final rounds after a tough loss earlier in the event.
She thanked her parents, family, team, and sponsors for their constant support.
A Journey Built on Family Support
Vaishali spoke about the sacrifices her family made. Having two professional players at home, including her brother R Praggnanandhaa, was not easy.
She described it as a long journey filled with hard work, support, and teamwork.
Other Key Results in Women’s Candidates
Anna Muzychuk and Zhu Jiner tried hard to reach a tiebreak. However, their game ended in a draw, ending their chances. Aleksandra Goryachkina finished strong by defeating Tan Zhongyi and securing a top finish.
Sindarov Already Crowned in Open Candidates
In the open section, Javokhir Sindarov had already won the tournament before the final round. He made a quick draw with Wei Yi to finish comfortably on top.
Fast Draws and Sharp Battles
Hikaru Nakamura and Praggnanandhaa played a quick draw after deep preparation. But other games were much more intense.
Giri and Caruana Shine in Final Round
Anish Giri defeated Matthias Bluebaum with a powerful performance. He finished with 8.5/14, a score strong enough to win in many tournaments.
Meanwhile, Fabiano Caruana played a stunning game against Andrey Esipenko. He sacrificed a rook with Rxc3, breaking his opponent’s position and launching a strong attack. Esipenko could not defend, and Caruana secured a brilliant win.
Fans Enjoy a Memorable Day
The fan zone was full of energy. Sindarov interacted with fans in a Q&A session. Former world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk provided live commentary.
Players also signed autographs and took photos, creating a lively atmosphere.
Final Thoughts
Vaishali’s victory marks a major moment in Indian chess. She now steps onto the biggest stage to fight for the Women’s World Championship title. All eyes will be on her clash against Ju Wenjun.
Photos: Michal Walusza, Niki Riga, FIDE_Chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
