R Vaishali (Photo by Michal Walusza) NEW DELHI: History was made on the Mediterranean coast when Vaishali Rameshbabu on Wednesday clinched the Candidates Tournament 2026 and earned the right to challenge China’s reigning champion Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship crown later this year.As Vaishali went into the final round, her fate was not entirely in her own hands. She needed a win against Kateryna Lagno and also needed Bibisara Assaubayeva to drop points. The first part of that equation fell into place when Divya Deshmukh held off Bibisara in the deciding draw in Cyprus, opening the door for Vaishali.
Watch
Harika Dronavalli Exclusive: Inside Grenke’s #chess win, viral no-handshake incident and moreVaishali seized the moment and came through under pressure. In the 14th round, she played with the white pieces and defeated Lagna in style to complete a remarkable campaign in the marathon tournament. Her composure and combativeness especially stood out in high-stakes situations where every move mattered.Vaishali’s journey through the tournament has shown both resilience and consistency. She secured key wins against strong opponents such as Lagno, Tan Zhongyi and Aleksandra Goryachkina, while holding on for important draws against top opponents such as Anna Muzychuk. Although she faced setbacks, including two losses to Zhu Jiner (her only defeats in the tournament), she bounced back strongly each time.All eyes now turn to her sensational clash against Ju Wenjun, a five-time world champion known for her calm and clinical game. READ ALSO: Harika Dronavalli Exclusive | An ’empty mind’ and a bold leap: How a veteran overcame freestyle chess on debutThe upcoming match promises a thrilling contest between experienced and rising talents. With a prize pool of 300,000 euros at stake and the worldwide attention of the event, Vaishali has already made history. R Vaishali is guaranteed at least €28,000 for winning the Candidates tournament. In addition, she received €2,200 for each half-point achieved during the tournament, increasing her total prize money.
