Intense Battles at 2026 FIDE Candidates: Vaishali and Deshmukh Face Challenges

The 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament is heating up as R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh face significant challenges in Round 12. Vaishali's loss has tightened the race for the women's championship, while Deshmukh's defeat leaves her at the bottom of the standings. R Praggnanandhaa managed a draw in the Open section, but his winless streak continues. With only two rounds left, the competition is fierce, and every match counts. Will Vaishali regain her lead, or will the pressure prove too much? Read on for a detailed analysis of the tournament's latest developments.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 13, 2026, 13:46 IST

Vaishali's Loss Alters Women's Candidates Landscape

On Sunday, R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh both faced defeats, while R Praggnanandhaa managed to secure a draw in Round 12 of the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament.

Vaishali's defeat was particularly significant, causing her to drop from sole leadership to a tie for the top position with Zhu Jiner, as both now hold seven points. This outcome has set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament, according to reports.

In a crucial match, Vaishali, playing with white pieces, made a critical blunder against Zhu, which could heavily influence the outcome of the women's championship. Losing to a competitor who is now tied with her in points is a significant setback, especially with only two rounds remaining.

In other matches, Anna Muzychuk managed to draw, while Bibisara Assaubayeva achieved a victory, placing both just half a point behind the leaders, Vaishali and Zhu.

Divya Deshmukh's Hopes Dashed

Divya Deshmukh, who was previously near the bottom of the standings, faced a loss against Tan Zhongyi, who was in last place. This defeat leaves both players tied at the bottom with five points, effectively eliminating them from title contention.

Following a rest day, the next round will see Vaishali competing against Tan, while Divya will face Kateryna Lagno. With the championship race tightly contested, Vaishali must remain focused and aim for victories in her final two matches.

Praggnanandhaa's Draw in Open Section

In the Open section, R Praggnanandhaa played to a draw against Andrey Esipenko, who is currently at the bottom of the standings, with Praggnanandhaa playing with black pieces in a challenging match.

Both players demonstrated near-perfect accuracy, around 99%, but the draw leaves Praggnanandhaa in a precarious position, second from the bottom with five points. Although this result may not significantly alter the overall standings, with Javokhir Sindarov leading decisively, it does extend Praggnanandhaa's winless streak in the Candidates tournament.