Pegeia, Cyprus: Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali continued her dominant run at the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, edging closer to a historic title with a crucial win in Round 11.
Facing Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina with the black pieces, Vaishali showcased remarkable composure and tactical awareness. She capitalised on a late blunder from her opponent, trapping a rook and forcing a resignation to secure a vital full point.
The victory takes Vaishali to 7 points from 11 rounds, strengthening her position at the top of the standings. China’s Zhu Jiner and Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk remain in joint second place on 6 points, trailing the Indian by a full point with just three rounds remaining.
Elsewhere in the women’s section, Divya Deshmukh held Zhu Jiner to a steady draw with the black pieces, while Muzychuk shared points with Kateryna Lagno.
With momentum firmly on her side, Vaishali now stands on the brink of becoming a challenger for the Women’s World Championship, needing a strong finish in the final rounds to seal a landmark triumph for Indian chess.
In the open section, R Praggnanandhaa played out a draw against Germany’s Matthias Blübaum, while leader Javokhir Sindarov maintained his advantage at the top after drawing with Fabiano Caruana.
As the tournament heads into its final phase, all eyes remain on Vaishali, whose consistency and calm under pressure have made her the standout performer of this year’s Candidates.
Source: ESPN , FIDE
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