Paphos, Cyprus: India’s R Vaishali delivered a standout performance in Round 9 of the FIDE Candidates Tournament, defeating compatriot Divya Deshmukh to climb into joint lead in the women’s section, while R Praggnanandhaa’s draw in the Open event dented his title hopes.
Vaishali produced one of the most impressive games of the round, showcasing tactical brilliance in an all-Indian clash. She employed a daring double rook sacrifice — first on move 23 and again on move 31 — forcing Divya into resignation. The victory marked Vaishali’s third win in four rounds and propelled her to 5.5 points, level with China’s Zhu Jiner at the top of the standings.
The win also reshaped the leaderboard. Heading into Round 9, five players were tied for first place, but Vaishali’s triumph and Zhu’s win over Kateryna Lagno created a two-way tie at the summit. Divya, meanwhile, slipped to joint-third on 4.5 points but remains firmly in contention as the tournament enters its decisive phase.
In the other women’s games, Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva, while Anna Muzychuk shared the points with Tan Zhongyi. Vaishali is set to face former leader Muzychuk in Round 10, while Divya will take on Goryachkina.
In the Open section, Praggnanandhaa had to settle for a draw against Wei Yi despite holding a promising position for much of the game. A critical decision on move 42 allowed his advantage to slip, leaving him on 4 points. With leader Javokhir Sindarov maintaining a commanding advantage despite drawing with Matthias Bluebaum, the Indian grandmaster’s chances of mounting a late challenge appear slim.
Anish Giri provided the only decisive result in the Open section, defeating Fabiano Caruana to move into second place on 5.5 points. Sindarov continues to lead comfortably on 7 points with five rounds remaining.
As the tournament approaches its closing stages, Vaishali’s surge has injected fresh excitement into the women’s race, while the Open section appears increasingly tilted in Sindarov’s favour.
Source: ESPN, FIDE
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