Candidates Chess: Vaishali's Final Push for Women's Title in Cyprus R Vaishali, the joint-leader in the women’s Candidates Chess tournament in Cyprus, faces a critical challenge as the penultimate round approaches. With seven points in the standings, Vaishali must defeat Tan Zhongyi, the 2023 Women’s World Champion, in the 13th round on Tuesday to secure a strong position for the title. The match will be played with black pieces, a strategic advantage that could tip the balance in her favor. However, the task is far from guaranteed, as Zhongyi, who currently trails with five points, has shown signs of inconsistency in recent games. Vaishali’s preparation has been aided by a woman psychologist, which has reportedly helped her maintain a more balanced and composed approach to the game. While computer algorithms may overestimate her accuracy, the 24-year-old, seeded as the lowest contender in the tournament, has yet to demonstrate the level of elite play required to challenge the top contenders. Her performance in the 13th round will be pivotal, as a win would place her in a position to control her fate in the final match against Ukrainian-turned-Russian Kateryna Lagno. If she fails to secure a victory, she will have to rely on other results to either clinch the title or force a playoff scenario in case of a tie. The competition for the Candidates title is fierce, with Zhu Jiner, also on seven points, emerging as Vaishali’s primary rival. Jiner, a direct contender for the Women’s World Championship, has been supported by the Chinese chess federation, which is determined to derail the Indian challenge. Jiner’s upcoming matches against Russian player Alexsandra Goryachkina and Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk in the 13th and final rounds respectively will be crucial.#zhu_jiner #anish_giri #vaishali #tan_zhongyi #chinese_chess_federation
