Chess · International
Vaishali wins the Women’s Candidates outright
Her 8.5/14 finish earned a world-title match against Ju Wenjun.
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Vaishali Rameshbabu won the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates on 15 April with 8.5 points from 14 games. She defeated Kateryna Lagno in the final round to secure an outright victory.
Bibisara Assaubayeva drew against Divya Deshmukh, leaving Vaishali clear at the top. The result settled a contest that had remained open after the penultimate round and removed the need for a championship-deciding tiebreak.
The win qualified Vaishali to challenge reigning champion Ju Wenjun. It confirmed the challenger, rather than the outcome of the subsequent world-title match. The final round was held at Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort in Cyprus.
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