India’s campaign at the FIDE Candidates 2026 took a hit in Round 12, and the timing could not have been worse. With the tournament entering its final stretch, R Vaishali lost a crucial game to China’s Zhu Jiner, a result that has completely reshaped the Women’s Candidates standings.
Vaishali came into the round as the sole leader, but a costly blunder with the white pieces handed Zhu the win in what was effectively a six-pointer. Instead of pulling away, the Indian Grandmaster now finds herself tied at the top on 7 points alongside the very player she lost to. With just two rounds left, the margin for error is gone.
This incident didn’t just mean no victory; it was also a huge change of events. Zhu has now reached this position way too soon for her; however, she now faces the pressure of having to meet the original expectation of Vasihali, who was previously in the number one position, and now having to compete against Zhu.
Therefore, she has to find a way, from direct competition between the two players, to respond to pressure to maintain his position.
In fact, there are currently four players in the running to win the championship title, and with two rounds remaining, it will be a straight shootout between those four players.
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Divya Deshmuth continued to struggle through her rounds. She lost to Tan Zhongyi while playing the white pieces, meaning they are both tied at 5 points near the bottom of the table and out of the championship race. It’s been a learning experience for Divya, but also one of showing how hard this level of play can be at times.
After the rest day, Vaishali faces Tan Zhongyi in the penultimate round. On paper, it’s an opportunity, but in reality, it’s a must-win. A draw may not be enough anymore, especially with Zhu and the chasing pack pushing hard. If Vaishali wants to stay in control of the title race, she needs to convert her chances and avoid the kind of mistakes that proved costly in Round 12.
R Praggnanandhaa Draws Against Esipenko in FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
In the Open section, the story is far less dramatic at the top but equally telling. R Praggnanandhaa played out a high-accuracy draw against Andrey Esipenko, with both players producing near-perfect games. Yet, the result extends Praggnanandhaa’s winless run in the tournament, leaving him on 5 points and near the bottom of the standings.
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While his position doesn’t impact the title race, it highlights a missed opportunity. Coming into the Candidates, Praggnanandhaa was seen as a potential challenger, but the inability to convert promising positions into wins has defined his campaign.
At the top, Javokhir Sindarov continues to look untouchable. A calm draw against Hikaru Nakamura took him to 9 points from 12 games, keeping him two points clear of the field. With just two rounds remaining, the Uzbek Grandmaster is now firmly on the brink of winning the Candidates and booking his spot in the World Championship match.
Even more striking is how controlled his run has been. While others have dropped points in tense battles, Sindarov has maintained consistency, avoiding risks and capitalising when it mattered earlier in the tournament. That approach now has him within touching distance of one of the biggest prizes in chess.
Round 12 may not have produced many decisive games, but its impact is massive. The Women’s Candidates has been blown wide open, while the Open section looks all but decided.
