Welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the fourteenth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Hikaru Nakamura (Black)
R Vaishali (White) vs Lagno Kateryna (Black)
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Bibisara Assaubayeva (Black)
April 15, 2026 17:59
Does Zhu Jiner have a chance
Anna Muzychuk, who entered the tournament as a replacement for Koneru Humpy, will take on Zhu Jiner, who is in title contention.
April 15, 2026 17:51
Will Sindarov’s help propel Bibisara to the World Title
April 15, 2026 17:48
Vishy Anand’s pick
In a video posted by FIDE, five-time World Champion, GM Viswanathan Anand was seen picking D Gukesh over Javokhir Sindarov for the World Chess Championship title.
April 15, 2026 17:46
FIDE Grand Swiss 2027 will take place in Isle of Man
April 15, 2026 17:44
Divya Deshmukh vs Bibisara
Divya takes on Bibisara and aims for a victory to end her campaign on a good note, and her win could also help Vaishali win the title today.
April 15, 2026 17:41
Read how Vaishali can win the title today
R Vaishali in FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026: Full title scenarios explained ahead of final round
Grandmaster R Vaishali is within reach of becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates title, heading into the final round on Wednesday.
April 15, 2026 17:35
Tiebreaks if needed tomorrow
If both Vaishali and Assaubayeva win their respective matches, they will head to a playoff tiebreaker on Thursday. Click here to read more
April 15, 2026 17:34
Big day for R Vaishali
If Vaishali beats Lagno Kateryna and Bibisara Assaubayeva draws or loses, Vaishali wins the tournament and will become the first Indian to win the women’s section.
April 15, 2026 17:32
Women’s section pairings for today
Anna Muzychuk — Zhu Jiner Aleksandra Goryachkina — Tan Zhongyi Vaishali Rameshbabu — Kateryna Lagno Divya Deshmukh — Bibisara Assaubayeva
April 15, 2026 17:32
Open section pairings for today
Andrey Esipenko — Fabiano Caruana Praggnanandhaa R — Hikaru Nakamura Matthias Bluebaum — Anish Giri Javokhir Sindarov — Wei Yi
April 15, 2026 17:31
It is the final round!
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 14 of FIDE Candidates 2026.
Welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the fourteenth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Hikaru Nakamura (Black)
R Vaishali (White) vs Lagno Kateryna (Black)
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Bibisara Assaubayeva (Black)
April 15, 2026 17:59
Does Zhu Jiner have a chance
Anna Muzychuk, who entered the tournament as a replacement for Koneru Humpy, will take on Zhu Jiner, who is in title contention.
April 15, 2026 17:51
Will Sindarov’s help propel Bibisara to the World Title
April 15, 2026 17:48
Vishy Anand’s pick
In a video posted by FIDE, five-time World Champion, GM Viswanathan Anand was seen picking D Gukesh over Javokhir Sindarov for the World Chess Championship title.
April 15, 2026 17:46
FIDE Grand Swiss 2027 will take place in Isle of Man
April 15, 2026 17:44
Divya Deshmukh vs Bibisara
Divya takes on Bibisara and aims for a victory to end her campaign on a good note, and her win could also help Vaishali win the title today.
April 15, 2026 17:41
Read how Vaishali can win the title today
R Vaishali in FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026: Full title scenarios explained ahead of final round
Grandmaster R Vaishali is within reach of becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates title, heading into the final round on Wednesday.
April 15, 2026 17:35
Tiebreaks if needed tomorrow
If both Vaishali and Assaubayeva win their respective matches, they will head to a playoff tiebreaker on Thursday. Click here to read more
April 15, 2026 17:34
Big day for R Vaishali
If Vaishali beats Lagno Kateryna and Bibisara Assaubayeva draws or loses, Vaishali wins the tournament and will become the first Indian to win the women’s section.
April 15, 2026 17:32
Women’s section pairings for today
Anna Muzychuk — Zhu Jiner Aleksandra Goryachkina — Tan Zhongyi Vaishali Rameshbabu — Kateryna Lagno Divya Deshmukh — Bibisara Assaubayeva
April 15, 2026 17:32
Open section pairings for today
Andrey Esipenko — Fabiano Caruana Praggnanandhaa R — Hikaru Nakamura Matthias Bluebaum — Anish Giri Javokhir Sindarov — Wei Yi
April 15, 2026 17:31
It is the final round!
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 14 of FIDE Candidates 2026.
Published on Apr 15, 2026
#FIDE #Chess #Candidates #Live #Vaishali #takes #Lagno #eyes #title #womens #section #heads #final #day #drama">FIDE Chess Candidates 2026 Live, Round 14: Vaishali takes on Lagno with eyes on title, women’s section heads for final day drama
FIDE Candidates 2026: Check out all Live updates from Round 14 of the Candidates tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
Welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of the fourteenth round of the FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament happening in Cyprus on Wednesday.
R Praggnanandhaa (White) vs Hikaru Nakamura (Black)
R Vaishali (White) vs Lagno Kateryna (Black)
Divya Deshmukh (White) vs Bibisara Assaubayeva (Black)
April 15, 2026 17:59
Does Zhu Jiner have a chance
Anna Muzychuk, who entered the tournament as a replacement for Koneru Humpy, will take on Zhu Jiner, who is in title contention.
April 15, 2026 17:51
Will Sindarov’s help propel Bibisara to the World Title
April 15, 2026 17:48
Vishy Anand’s pick
In a video posted by FIDE, five-time World Champion, GM Viswanathan Anand was seen picking D Gukesh over Javokhir Sindarov for the World Chess Championship title.
April 15, 2026 17:46
FIDE Grand Swiss 2027 will take place in Isle of Man
April 15, 2026 17:44
Divya Deshmukh vs Bibisara
Divya takes on Bibisara and aims for a victory to end her campaign on a good note, and her win could also help Vaishali win the title today.
April 15, 2026 17:41
Read how Vaishali can win the title today
R Vaishali in FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026: Full title scenarios explained ahead of final round
Grandmaster R Vaishali is within reach of becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates title, heading into the final round on Wednesday.
April 15, 2026 17:35
Tiebreaks if needed tomorrow
If both Vaishali and Assaubayeva win their respective matches, they will head to a playoff tiebreaker on Thursday. Click here to read more
April 15, 2026 17:34
Big day for R Vaishali
If Vaishali beats Lagno Kateryna and Bibisara Assaubayeva draws or loses, Vaishali wins the tournament and will become the first Indian to win the women’s section.
April 15, 2026 17:32
Women’s section pairings for today
Anna Muzychuk — Zhu Jiner Aleksandra Goryachkina — Tan Zhongyi Vaishali Rameshbabu — Kateryna Lagno Divya Deshmukh — Bibisara Assaubayeva
April 15, 2026 17:32
Open section pairings for today
Andrey Esipenko — Fabiano Caruana Praggnanandhaa R — Hikaru Nakamura Matthias Bluebaum — Anish Giri Javokhir Sindarov — Wei Yi
April 15, 2026 17:31
It is the final round!
Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s coverage of Round 14 of FIDE Candidates 2026.
Tan later delivered a check with Qe8+, forcing Vaishali’s king to h7. Material remained level, but the position remained volatile with several pieces on the board.
However, with Vaishali’s knight finding strong outposts on d3 and f4, posing a growing threat to the kingside, Tan opted against taking further risks. The players soon repeated moves to agree to a draw by threefold repetition.
Vaishali appeared content with the result against the former World Champion, staying in title contention heading into the final round.
Tan later delivered a check with Qe8+, forcing Vaishali’s king to h7. Material remained level, but the position remained volatile with several pieces on the board.
However, with Vaishali’s knight finding strong outposts on d3 and f4, posing a growing threat to the kingside, Tan opted against taking further risks. The players soon repeated moves to agree to a draw by threefold repetition.
Vaishali appeared content with the result against the former World Champion, staying in title contention heading into the final round.
Published on Apr 14, 2026
#FIDE #Candidates #Womens #section #Vaishali #draws #Tan #Bibisara #joins #top #table">FIDE Candidates 2026, Women’s section: Vaishali draws with Tan as Bibisara joins her at top of table
Indian GM R Vaishali kept herself well in contention to claim the FIDE women’s candidates title after she claimed a draw against Tan Zhongyi in Round 13 on Tuesday.
Vaishali is in joint-lead with 7.5 points, alongside Bibisara, and will now face Lagno Kateryna in the final round on Wednesday.
Vaishali can clinch the title if she out-scores Bibisara on Wednesday and second-placed Zhu Jiner fails to win her tie.
Playing with the black pieces, Vaishali opted for a solid Queen’s Gambit Accepted. By move 15, the position was roughly equal, with Tan attempting to build pressure on the kingside, but Vaishali held firm with a sound defensive set-up.
Tan later delivered a check with Qe8+, forcing Vaishali’s king to h7. Material remained level, but the position remained volatile with several pieces on the board.
However, with Vaishali’s knight finding strong outposts on d3 and f4, posing a growing threat to the kingside, Tan opted against taking further risks. The players soon repeated moves to agree to a draw by threefold repetition.
Vaishali appeared content with the result against the former World Champion, staying in title contention heading into the final round.
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