R Vaishali Shines Bright: On the Cusp of History at the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026

Indian Chess Star R Vaishali Poised for Historic Win at FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026

Cyprus, April 10, 2026 — In a stunning turnaround, Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali has surged to the top of the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 tournament in Cyprus, positioning herself on the brink of making history. After a rocky start that mirrored her fellow Indian Grandmaster Divya Deshmukh, who is also competing in her first Candidates event, Vaishali has emerged as a formidable contender, winning three of her last five games.

Initially, both Vaishali and Deshmukh struggled, with Vaishali recording four draws and a defeat in her first five matches. Her only loss came in a grueling 62-move battle against China’s Zhu Jiner, where she fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to time pressure. However, the tide has turned dramatically for Vaishali, who now stands alone at the top of the standings with four rounds remaining.

While Vaishali shines, her younger brother, R Praggnanandhaa, faces a challenging situation. After starting strong with a victory over Anish Giri, the 20-year-old has not won since, leaving him near the bottom of the table with just 4 points out of 10. His hopes of an all-Indian World Championship showdown against Gukesh Dommaraju are dwindling.

Vaishali’s ascent is particularly noteworthy given the historical context of the Women’s Candidates. The tournament, which has been a platform for determining the challenger to the reigning world champion, has seen limited Indian representation in the past. The legendary Viswanathan Anand has twice won the Candidates, but no Indian woman has yet claimed the title. Vaishali, a two-time FIDE Grand Swiss winner, is now in a prime position to become the first.

The 2026 edition of the Women’s Candidates is unprecedented, featuring three Indian players after Divya’s remarkable victory over Humpy in the Women’s World Cup final last year. However, Humpy withdrew from the tournament due to concerns over the US-Iran conflict, making way for Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk.

As the tournament progresses, Vaishali’s resilience and strategic prowess have captured the attention of chess enthusiasts worldwide. Her recent victories, including a decisive win against Deshmukh, have solidified her status as a favorite to challenge reigning world champion Ju Wenjun later this year.

With India’s chess scene flourishing, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2022 Chess Olympiad and a golden sweep in 2024, Vaishali’s potential triumph would mark a significant milestone in Indian chess history. As she prepares for the final stretch of the tournament, all eyes will be on this rising star, who is on the cusp of achieving what many thought was a distant dream.

Will R Vaishali maintain her momentum and secure her place in the annals of chess history? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: the world of chess is watching closely as she aims for glory in Cyprus.