Bhubaneswar: India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu created history by winning the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus, securing a place in the Women’s World Chess Championship later this year.
Vaishali clinched the title with an impressive 8.5 points in the double round-robin event, sealing her victory with a crucial final-round win over Kateryna Lagno. Her consistent performance against top-ranked opponents underlined her composure and strategic depth throughout the tournament.
With this achievement, she becomes only the second Indian woman after Koneru Humpy to earn the right to challenge for the world title.
Vaishali will now face reigning champion Ju Wenjun in what is expected to be a highly anticipated championship clash.
Entering the tournament as one of the lower-rated contenders, Vaishali’s triumph is being hailed as a landmark moment for Indian chess, reflecting the country’s growing dominance on the global stage.
-OdishaAge
