Queen’s Gambit: Vaishali triumphs in Candidates, will vie for world title | Chess News

Vaishali Rameshbabu (Photo: FIDE)

There will be twin Indian representation at the highest boards of chess this time. On Wednesday, R Vaishali, lowest-ranked seed in the women’s Candidates tournament in Cyprus, earned the right to challenge China’s Ju Wenjun for the world title later this year. The 24-year-old, with Praggnanandhaa, the other half of Chennai’s famed GM siblings, survived nervy moments to defeat Kateryna Lagno of Russia and win the title. She tallied 8.5 points after 14 rounds to qualify for the Women’s World Championship match.With Uzbek whiz Sindarov, 20, storming through the Open field in Cyprus, and setting up the challenge to men’s world champion D Gukesh, an Indian GM will contest both men’s and women’s sections of the World title matches. “It means a lot to me… super happy. Won’t be able to put it in words,” Vaishali told Chess24 webcast.Vaishali is only the second India woman to qualify for the title match. Koneru Humpy, who withdrew from the 2026 Candidates due to the West Asia conflict, had made it to the World title match in 2011. In 2010, Vishy Anand retained his world title by beating Veselin Topalov and securing another match for 2012. A year later, Humpy won a right to challenge China’s Hou Yifan for the World Matchplay title 2011. Vaishali owes a nod to Divya Deshmukh. The path towards the title match was made easier when Divya held the joint overnight leader Bibisara Assaubayeva (8 points) to a draw. That meant a win for Vaishali would make her a clear winner without needing tiebreaks.Divya had beaten compatriot K Humpy in the knockout World Cup final. But despite falling 40 minutes behind against Bibisara and losing four of the preceding five games, she denied half a point to the Kazakh. She also avoided a wooden spoon spot with this result. Legendary woman player Judit Polgar was full praise for Vaishali’s fighting qualities and incredible feat of winning the title as the lowest seed. But she offered a note of caution, saying, “Vaishali has to do incredible work to improve different parts of her play. She cannot make as many mistakes as she did here because they won’t be forgiven (in the Championship match against Ju Wenjun). If she can eliminate her inaccuracies, it can be a balanced match.”On Wednesday, Lagno opted for the Sicilian dragon against Vaishali, a variation that Garry Kasparov used to beat Anand in their 1995 World Championship match. Vaishali had played only three competitive games in her lifetime in the Sicilian Dragon, winning twice but losing with white pieces at Wijk aan Zee last year. But she changed course, making a long castle instead of a short castle. The dragon that acted as a dagger to Indian hearts in 1995 was not good enough this time.Vaishali had a trial by fire in the Open Challenger section of the Chennai GM event August last year, losing eight of the 10 games and finishing last. Quitting the event would have been an easy and understandable option. But she avoided the wrath of chess goddess Caissa by continuing.Though Vaishali has revealed that she is working with a woman psychologist, her second for the Cyprus event was not known. She had worked with Sandipan Chanda for the last Candidates. Vaishali is mentored by childhood coach RB Ramesh and Westbridge Anand Chess Academy (WACA). She hails from Velammal Vidyalaya, the school considered as Chennai’s chess factory.Once Lagno felt that thought 32 minutes for the bishop move (11… Be6), hopes were running high for Vaishali. And though she did not avoid many possible traps in the best possible way, once she played a pawn push to keep her queen in control. The resignation came after 48 moves. How Vaishali Finished (8.5 points of 14 rounds) Seven Draws, Two Defeats, Five WinsRd 1 Drew with Bibisara; Rd 2 Drew with Divya; Rd 3 Drew with Anna; Rd 4 Drew with Aleksandra; Rd 5 Lost to Zhu; Rd 6 Beat Lagno; Rd 7 Beat Tan; Rd 8 Drew with Bibisara; Rd 9 Beat Divya; Rd 10 Drew with Anna; Rd 11 Beat Aleksandra; Rd 12 Lost to Zhu; Rd 13 Drew with Tan; Rd 14 Beat Lagno VAISHALI’S PATH TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH AGAINST JU WENJUN

VAISHALI’S CANDIDATES RESULTS