The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 was the biggest chess event to decide who would challenge for the world titles, featuring top grandmasters in a 14-round battle testing skill, patience, and consistency under pressure across both open and women’s sections.
In the open section, Javokhir Sindarov dominated the tournament, securing the title in Round 13 itself and finishing unbeaten after drawing the final round. He will now face Gukesh Dommaraju for the world championship.
In the women’s section, R Vaishali held her nerve in a tense final round to clinch the title and earn her place in the championship match.
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: Vaishali’s Winning
In the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Vaishali Rameshbabu delivered a calm and steady performance to win the Women’s Candidates. Playing in Cyprus, she scored 8.5 points out of 14 rounds. Going into the final round, everything depended on her last game. She stayed composed and defeated Kateryna Lagno,
This confirmed her victory in the tournament. With this result, Vaishali earned the chance to challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship title. Her journey showed consistency, confidence, and strong decision-making at every stage.
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Vaishali Rameshbabu and Kateryna Lagno’s Decisive Final-Round Game
In this decisive final-round game, Vaishali Rameshbabu secured a crucial win over Kateryna Lagno, finishing 1–0. Vaishali showed strong control and composure under pressure, converting her advantage effectively.
Lagno resisted but couldn’t hold the position. This result proved match-defining, as Vaishali handled the high-stakes moment better, turning a balanced contest into a winning endgame to seal the tournament.
FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026: Vaishali’s Rise
In the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Vaishali Rameshbabu showed a smart and steady approach to win the Women’s title. She finished with 8.5 out of 14 points, including 5 wins, 7 draws, and 2 losses, and secured first place by a half-point margin. In the final round, she defeated Kateryna Lagno with the white pieces, breaking her tie with Bibisara Assaubayeva.
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After finishing joint-second in 2024 with 7.5 points, Vaishali improved strongly. Considered an underdog, she stayed consistent, especially in the second half. She will now face Ju Wenjun for the world title.
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