Vaishali becomes first Indian woman to win Candidates

16-Apr-2026

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India's R Vaishali produced the biggest result of her career on April 15, winning the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament in Cyprus to become the first Indian to claim the title and secure a place in the World Championship match later this year.

The 24-year-old, long seen in the shadow of her younger sibling R Praggnanandhaa, sealed the 2026 crown with a composed victory in the final round, finishing a campaign that gathered momentum as it progressed and stayed alive until the closing day. Her win sets up a meeting with China's reigning champion Ju Wenjun, a five-time world champion who has set the standard in the women's game in recent years. On the other hand, Vaishali's brother Praggnanandhaa signed off with a draw against American star Hikaru Nakamura.