R Vaishali Clinches Candidates Crown, Sets Up World Championship Clash with Ju Wenjun

India’s rising chess star R Vaishali delivered a remarkable performance to win the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus on Wednesday, earning the right to challenge reigning world champion Ju Wenjun later this year.

The 24-year-old sealed her victory in style, defeating Kateryna Lagno with the white pieces in the final round to finish with 8.5 points out of 14. Calm and composed under pressure, Vaishali stayed half a point clear of her closest rivals, completing one of the most impressive turnarounds in recent memory—especially after starting the event as one of the lowest-rated players.

Her triumph echoes the stunning rise of D Gukesh in 2024, who also defied expectations to win the Candidates. Vaishali herself had come close earlier, finishing joint second in 2024 with 7.5 points, but this time she went a step further to claim the title.

In the decisive game, Vaishali executed her strategy with precision. A strong opening gave her an early edge, which she carefully converted into a win. Maintaining a pawn advantage, she handled the middlegame with accuracy and navigated critical moments around the second time control without faltering. One slip could have shifted the balance, but she held her nerve to finish almost flawlessly.

Her victory, however, wasn’t hers alone to decide. Fellow Indian Divya Deshmukh played a crucial supporting role by holding Bibisara Assaubayeva to a draw. Since Assaubayeva was level on points with Vaishali going into the round, that result ensured Vaishali’s win would stand uncontested.

What makes this achievement even more compelling is how close Vaishali came to missing the opportunity altogether. After a disappointing outing at the Chennai Grand Masters last year, where she managed just 1.5 points, she had even considered skipping the Grand Swiss.

Despite a shaky finish leading into the final round—scoring just half a point in her previous two games—Vaishali rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Key performances earlier in the tournament, particularly against Tan Zhongyi, proved decisive in shaping her winning campaign.

With this breakthrough victory, Vaishali now stands on the brink of history as she prepares to face Ju Wenjun for the World Championship title.

With inputs from IANS