Vaishali Rameshbabu Triumphs Over Kateryna Lagno: A Historic Victory at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus

Vaishali Rameshbabu Triumphs Over Kateryna Lagno, Makes History at Candidates Tournament

NEW DELHI: In a thrilling display of skill and strategy, 24-year-old Vaishali Rameshbabu has etched her name in chess history by becoming the first Indian woman to win the Candidates Tournament. Her victory came against Russia’s Kateryna Lagno at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Cyprus, where the stakes were high and the pressure palpable.

The proverb “Fortune favours the brave” rings true in Vaishali’s journey. Despite sharing the same score of 7.5/14 points with Bibisara Assaubayeva, who faced Vaishali’s compatriot Divya Deshmukh, it was Vaishali’s bold moves that set her apart. While Divya held Assaubayeva to a draw, Vaishali’s decisive win over Lagno secured her place as a World Championship challenger.

Vaishali, playing with the white pieces, faced a formidable opponent in Lagno, a mother of four known for her calm demeanor at the chessboard. The match began with Lagno opting for the sharp Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense, a choice that would soon lead to her downfall. Vaishali countered with her preferred Yugoslav Attack, a strategy that has proven effective against the Dragon.

“Vaishali’s last match against Lagno was a very well-played, smooth game in which she was throughout in a powerful position,” noted chess expert Thipsay. The early moves set the tone, with Vaishali executing a long castle on the ninth move, a tactic recently popularized by Magnus Carlsen.

Despite a momentary slip in judgment, Vaishali maintained her advantage. Lagno’s decision to retain her bishops instead of exchanging them proved to be a critical mistake. By the time Lagno resigned on the 48th move, the material imbalance was staggering: Vaishali held a queen and two rooks against Lagno’s lone queen and bishop.

This victory not only marks a personal triumph for Vaishali but also breaks a decade-long streak of Chinese dominance in the Women’s World Championship. She is set to face China’s Ju Wenjun later this year, making her the second Indian ever to challenge for the title.

As the chess community celebrates her remarkable achievement, the parallels to the 2024 cycle are hard to ignore. “Let’s see if Vaishali is able to repeat what Gukesh did,” Thipsay remarked, referencing the recent success of fellow Indian Gukesh D. “In 2026, we may experience the same with Vaishali defeating Ju Wenjun.”

With her late-surge comeback after a shaky start to the tournament, Vaishali Rameshbabu has proven that fortune indeed favours the brave. As she prepares for the World Championship, the chess world watches with bated breath, eager to see what this rising star will accomplish next.