R Vaishali (Photo by Michel Valusha)
NEW DELHI: History was created on the shores of the Mediterranean when Vaishali Rambabu won the 2026 Candidates Championship on Wednesday, earning the right to challenge Chinese champion Guo Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship title later this year.Heading into the final round, Vaishali’s fate was not entirely in her hands. She needed a win over Katerina Lajno and also asked Bibisara Asaobayeva to drop points. The first part of that equation fell into place when Divya Deshmukh forced a crucial draw against Bebesara in Cyprus, opening the door for Vaishali.
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Seizing the moment, Vaishali delivered under pressure. Playing with the white pieces in the 14th round, she defeated Lagno in style, capping an impressive marathon tournament campaign. Her composure and fighting spirit stood out, especially in high-stakes situations where every step mattered.Vaishali’s journey through the tournament showed resilience and consistency. She has achieved key wins against strong opponents such as Lagno, Tan Zhonghe and Alexandra Goryachkina, while also maintaining her position with important draws against top contenders such as Anna Muzychuk. Although she faced setbacks, including losing to Zhou Jenner twice (her only defeat in the tournament), she bounced back strongly each time.
Now, all eyes are on her impressive showdown against Gu Wenjun, the five-time world champion known for her calm and clinical play. Read also: Harika Dronavali Exclusive | An ’empty mind’ and a bold leap: How the veteran broke freestyle chess on his debutThe next match promises to be an exciting competition between experience and rising talent. With a prize pool of €300,000 at stake and global interest in the event, Vaishali has already etched her name in history. R Vaishali has guaranteed a minimum of ₹28,000 to win the women’s nominees tournament. In addition, she received €2,200 for every half point scored during the event, increasing her prize pool.