Vaishali Secures Spot in World Chess Championship by Winning Candidates 2026

Vaishali Triumphs in Candidates Tournament

In a crucial match on Wednesday, Vaishali clinched victory in the Candidates 2026 by overcoming Kateryna Lagno with a score of 8.5 out of 14. This win positions her to face China's Ju Wenjun for the prestigious World Chess Title. With this achievement, India will have both a challenger, Vaishali, and a reigning champion, Gukesh, at the upcoming World Chess Championship.

At just 24 years old, Vaishali has made history as the first Indian woman to win the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Despite facing challenges during the competition, including losses in rounds 5 and 12, she demonstrated remarkable resilience and made a strong comeback.

The victory was also a testament to teamwork, as fellow Indian player Divya Deshmukh managed to draw her game against Bibisara Assaubayeva, which was crucial for Vaishali's title win. Had Divya lost, the outcome would have led to tie-breaks.

Expressing her joy shortly after the match, Vaishali stated, “It means a lot. I'm super happy.” She further remarked, “I won't be able to put it into words.” Indian chess icon Vishy Anand commented on the outcome, saying, "We will have one horse in both races."More to follow...