Paphos: Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali climbed into the sole lead of the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 after a composed draw with Anna Muzychuk in Round 10. Playing with the black pieces, Vaishali remained in complete control throughout and comfortably secured half a point to reach six points at the top of the standings.
The result proved decisive as overnight leader Zhu Jiner slipped after losing to Bibisara Assaubayeva, allowing Vaishali to surge ahead. Meanwhile, fellow Indian Divya Deshmukh suffered a setback following an endgame error against Aleksandra Goryachkina, leaving her 1.5 points behind the leader.
Despite Vaishali’s advantage, the contest remains tightly poised. The top six players are separated by just one point, with Zhu Jiner and Anna Muzychuk tied on 5.5 points, keeping pressure on the Indian leader.
The upcoming Round 11 could prove pivotal. Vaishali will face Goryachkina with the black pieces in a crucial clash, while Divya Deshmukh takes on Zhu Jiner, also with black, in another high-stakes encounter.
In the open section, Javokhir Sindarov continued his dominant run by defeating R Praggnanandhaa, strengthening his grip on the leaderboard. With four rounds remaining, Sindarov holds a commanding advantage, while Praggnanandhaa’s chances of mounting a title challenge appear slim.
With the finish line approaching, all eyes remain on Vaishali, who now stands just a few solid performances away from a historic Candidates triumph.
Source: ESPN
Discussion about this post