FIDE Candidates: Vaishali Loses Round 12, Praggnanandhaa Draws in Intense Tournament The 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament saw a dramatic shift in momentum as Indian players faced setbacks in the Women’s and Open sections. In the Women’s Candidates, Vaishali lost her Round 12 game to China’s Zhu Jiner, ending her sole lead and creating a two-way tie at the top. Both Vaishali and Zhu Jiner now share 7 points, setting up a thrilling final stretch of the tournament with only two rounds remaining. Vaishali’s loss was particularly impactful, as she had previously held a commanding position. The game, which she played with white pieces, ended in a blunder that allowed Zhu to secure the win. This result has significant implications for the women’s championship, as both players now face the challenge of overtaking their rivals in the final stages. Meanwhile, Divya Deshmukh, who had been placed joint second-last in the standings, suffered a loss to Tan Zhongyi, the bottom-placed player. This move left both Deshmukh and Zhongyi tied at 5 points, effectively eliminating them from contention for the title. The Women’s Candidates tournament has now entered its penultimate round, with Vaishali set to face Tan Zhongyi and Divya Deshmukh taking on Kateryna Lagno. Vaishali will need to maintain her composure and secure outright victories in her remaining matches to challenge for the title. The competition has been described as an intense race, with multiple players vying for the final spots. The standings after Round 12 reflect the tight race at the top. Anna Muzychuk and Bibisara Assaubayeva both sit at 6.5 points, just 0.5 behind Vaishali and Zhu Jiner. Kateryna Lagno and Aleksandra Goryachkina follow at 5.5 points, while Deshmukh remains at 5.#divya_deshmukh #zhu_jiner #vaishali #tan_zhongyi #kateryna_lagno
Candidates Chess: Vaishali Extends Lead to One Point R. Vaishali solidified her position as the sole leader in the Women’s Candidates chess tournament by securing a decisive victory over Aleksandra Goryachkina in the 11th round at Pegeia, Cyprus, on Saturday. The win, which came in the final round of the open section, propelled Vaishali to a total of seven points, leaving her with just three rounds remaining in the competition. Her performance underscored her dominance in the event, as she continues to build momentum toward the Women’s World Chess Championship. The match against Goryachkina, a former world champion from Russia, was a critical test for Vaishali. The Indian grandmaster’s victory not only extended her lead but also highlighted her ability to navigate high-pressure encounters. With three rounds left, Vaishali’s tally of seven points places her in a commanding position, though the final standings will depend on her results in the remaining games. The tournament, held in Cyprus, has drawn top-tier players from around the globe, making each round a pivotal moment in the race for the title. Vaishali’s lead was further bolstered by the performance of her fellow Indian competitor, Divya Deshmukh. Deshmukh played a crucial role in maintaining Vaishali’s advantage by holding her strongest rival, Zhu Jiner of China, to a draw. This result prevented Zhu Jiner from gaining ground on Vaishali and kept her in second place with six points. The draw also allowed Anna Muzychuk, a Ukrainian grandmaster, to share the second spot with Zhu Jiner, creating a tight race for the final qualification spots. Zhu Jiner, the second seed in the tournament, had been a formidable opponent throughout the competition. Her draw with Deshmukh, however, left her with six points and a one-point deficit to Vaishali.#divya_deshmukh #zhu_jiner #vaishali #aleksandra_goryachkina #pegeia
Vaishali Leads Women's FIDE Candidates Tournament After Strong Performance R Vaishali secured the sole lead in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament after a decisive draw against Anna Muzychuk in Round 10. The Indian grandmaster maintained a steady position throughout the game, avoiding any significant threats from her opponent. This result elevated Vaishali to a half-point advantage over the rest of the field, as Zhu Jiner’s loss to Bibisara Assaubayeva further solidified her position. Divya Deshmukh, meanwhile, faced a setback after a critical blunder in the endgame against Aleksandra Goryachkina, leaving her 1.5 points behind the leader. The women’s tournament remains highly competitive, with the top six players separated by just one point. Zhu Jiner and Muzychuk both sit on 5.5 points, half a point behind Vaishali’s 6.0. The standings reflect a tight race, with the top contenders still within striking distance. In Round 11, Vaishali will face Goryachkina with the black pieces, while Divya will take on Zhu Jiner with the black pieces. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining the final standings. The results of Round 10 for the women’s event include: Anna Muzychuk drew 0.5-0.5 with R Vaishali Divya Deshmukh lost 0.5-0.5 to Aleksandra Goryachkina Bibisara Assaubayeva defeated Zhu Jiner 1-0 Kateryna Lagno drew 0.5-0.5 with Tan Zhongyi The standings after Round 10 are as follows: Anna Muzychuk - 5.5 Kateryna Lagno - 5 Bibisara Assaubayeva - 5 Aleksandra Goryachkina - 5 Divya Deshmukh - 4.5 Tan Zhongyi - 3.5 Javokhir Sindarov’s dominance in the open event continued as he defeated R Praggnanandhaa for the second time in the tournament. The Uzbek grandmaster capitalized on a decisive blunder by the Indian player in the middlegame, securing a clear victory.#anna_muzychuk #divya_deshmukh #bibisara_assaubayeva #vaishali_r #aleksandra_goryachkina
Candidates 2026: How Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali and Divya's chances stack up at the halfway mark At the midpoint of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournaments in Cyprus, the competition has revealed stark contrasts between the men’s and women’s sections. In the open category, Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has surged ahead with a commanding lead, while the women’s tournament remains a tightly contested battle among top-tier players. Indian participants Praggnanandhaa, Vaishali, and Divya Deshmukh are all vying for positions that could secure their spots in the World Championship match, though their prospects vary significantly. In the men’s section, Sindarov’s dominance is undeniable. After seven rounds, the 25-year-old has accumulated six points from five wins and two draws, putting him in a position of near-certainty to claim the title. His performance has left the rest of the field struggling to keep pace, with Praggnanandhaa, the Indian prodigy, trailing by 2.5 points. The young player, who has already made a name for himself in international chess, now faces an uphill battle. With a score of 3.5 points from seven games—comprising one win, one loss, and five draws—Praggnanandhaa’s path to the final is fraught with challenges. Analysts suggest that unless Sindarov experiences a catastrophic collapse in the second half of the tournament, Praggnanandhaa’s chances are minimal. The Indian’s next critical opportunity lies in his upcoming game against Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri, where he will play as Black. This match, scheduled for the start of the second half, could provide the momentum needed to keep his hopes alive. However, Praggnanandhaa has not won a game since his opening-day victory over Giri, raising concerns about his ability to break his losing streak.#anna_muzychuk #divya_deshmukh #fide_candidates_2026 #praggnanandhaa #vaishali
R Praggnanandhaa Draws, Divya Deshmukh Suffers Defeat In Candidates Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa secured a draw against German player Matthias Bluebaum in the fourth round of the open section of the FIDE Candidates Tournament on Wednesday. This result followed a previous loss to Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov in the third round, marking a setback in Praggnanandhaa’s campaign. The draw came after Praggnanandhaa had opened his tournament with a victory over Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri. Meanwhile, in the women’s event, Divya Deshmukh of India suffered a defeat against Chinese player Zhu Jiner, while Indian player R Vaishali drew with Russian Grandmaster Aleksandra Goryachkina. Javokhir Sindarov, who had already claimed two wins in the tournament, extended his dominance by defeating American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana with a strong opening strategy. This victory brought Sindarov closer to securing the FIDE Candidates title. In the women’s section, Zhu Jiner and Ukrainian player Anna Muzychuk regained momentum with key victories, with Muzychuk now sharing the lead in the standings with Kazakhstani player Bibisara Assaubayeva. The tournament’s open section saw Praggnanandhaa’s early promise tempered by Sindarov’s aggressive play, which left the Indian player with a challenging path to the final. Praggnanandhaa’s draw against Bluebaum, however, ensured he remained in contention for a top-four finish. The women’s event also highlighted the competitiveness of the field, with multiple players vying for the final spots. The results underscored the high level of play in the FIDE Candidates Tournament, where both men’s and women’s sections featured intense matches and strategic depth.#divya_deshmukh #r_praggnanandhaa #javokhir_sindarov #zhu_jiner #fide_candidates_tournament
FIDE Candidates 2026: Praggnanandhaa Draws, Sindarov Takes Lead, Divya Suffers Defeat R Praggnanandhaa maintained his position in the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament after securing a draw against Matthias Blübaum in the fourth round. The Indian grandmaster, who had previously lost to Javokhir Sindarov in the third round, opted for the Slav Defence in his fourth game, a choice that minimized pressure on his side. The game progressed without significant complications, resulting in a draw after 37 moves through a three-fold repetition. Both Praggnanandhaa and Blübaum now share 2 points, having drawn all four of their games so far. Anish Giri also joined them on 2 points after his win against Andrey Esipenko. Despite the draw, Praggnanandhaa’s standing in the tournament has worsened compared to the end of Round 3. With 2 points in four rounds, he trails Javokhir Sindarov, who has surged to the top of the standings. Sindarov’s victory over Fabiano Caruana in the fourth round gave him 3.5 points, a full point ahead of Caruana, who now sits second with 2.5 points. The Uzbek player’s dominance has positioned him as the clear leader, with his recent wins against Esipenko, Praggnanandhaa, and Caruana solidifying his lead. The remaining ten rounds will be critical for the other contenders to challenge Sindarov’s position. The Open section’s Round 4 results highlighted several key developments. Sindarov’s win over Caruana extended his lead, while Wei Yi and Hikaru Nakamura drew their game, keeping Nakamura at 1.5 points. Esipenko’s loss to Giri left him at 1 point, while Blübaum and Praggnanandhaa remained tied at 2 points. The standings after Round 4 showed Sindarov at the top, followed by Caruana, Praggnanandhaa, and Blübaum.#divya_deshmukh #fide_candidates_2026 #praggnanandhaa #javokhir_sindarov #zhu_jiner
"Bad move": Cyprus chess chief hits back at Koneru Humpy after Candidates pull-out Top Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has withdrawn from the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, citing concerns about her personal safety during the event. Her decision has drawn strong criticism from the Cyprus Chess Federation, which dismissed her claims as unfounded and emphasized the importance of the tournament as a critical pathway to the Women’s World Championship. Humpy, who qualified for the event after finishing runner-up at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, stated on social media that she had made the difficult choice to withdraw “after deep reflection.” She emphasized that her decision was driven by a commitment to her safety and well-being, despite assurances from organizers. “No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being,” she wrote, adding that the situation left her feeling “unsecure” under current circumstances. The Cyprus Chess Federation strongly rejected her reasoning, calling it a “bad move” and accusing her of spreading misinformation. A spokesperson for the federation stated that the tournament is “one of the largest and most important chess events in the world” and that decisions at such a high level should be based on “calculation and facts,” not fear or unfounded concerns. The federation warned that Humpy’s withdrawal could lead to consequences, including potential fines under FIDE rules, if her reasoning is not accepted. With Humpy’s absence, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk has been confirmed as her replacement in the tournament. India will still have representation through players R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh in the women’s category. In the open category, R Praggnanandhaa will be the sole Indian flagbearer.#konneru_humpy #cyprus_chess_federation #anna_muzychuk #r_vaishali #divya_deshmukh
