Intense Battles in Round 12 of the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament

The 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament's Round 12 delivered intense matches, with R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh facing defeats, while R Praggnanandhaa managed a draw. Vaishali's loss has significant implications for the championship race, as she now shares the lead with Zhu Jiner. With only two rounds left, the competition is heating up, and players must maintain focus to secure their positions. Read on for a detailed overview of the matches and standings.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 14, 2026, 02:00 IST

Round 12 Highlights

New Delhi [India] - April 13: In a dramatic Round 12 of the 2026 FIDE Candidates tournament, R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh faced defeats, while R Praggnanandhaa managed to secure a draw.

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 players now hold seven points. This outcome has set the stage for an exciting conclusion to the tournament, according to reports from ESPN.

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

Meanwhile, Anna Muzychuk managed to draw her game, while Bibisara Assaubayeva achieved a victory, placing them just half a point behind the leaders, Vaishali and Zhu.

Divya Deshmukh, who was previously near the bottom of the standings, lost to Tan Zhongyi, who was in last place, resulting in both players now sharing the bottom position with five points, effectively eliminating them from title contention.

After a rest day, the penultimate round will feature Vaishali competing against Tan, while Divya will face Kateryna Lagno. With the championship race tightly contested, Vaishali must remain focused and aim for wins in her final two matches to keep her title hopes alive.

In the Open section, R Praggnanandhaa drew against Andrey Esipenko, who is currently at the bottom of the standings. Both players demonstrated nearly flawless accuracy, around 99%, but the draw leaves Praggnanandhaa near the bottom with five points.

Although this result may not significantly affect the overall standings, with Javokhir Sindarov leading the pack, it does extend Praggnanandhaa's winless streak in the Candidates tournament.