R Vaishali has won the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament and will face China’s Ju Wenjun for the world title later this year.
This historic triumph secures her place in the Women’s World Chess Championship, making her only the second Indian woman to achieve this milestone. Her remarkable journey—from being one of the lowest-rated players in the tournament to emerging as champion—highlights her exceptional strategy, resilience, and skill.
Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand captured the significance of her victory, saying, “We will have one horse in both races,” as India now boasts representation in both the Open and Women’s World Championship matches. With D Gukesh already holding the Open world title, India’s rise at the highest level of chess continues to gain momentum.
