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Highlight from Round 11 of FIDE Candidates as it happened

Playing with the Black pieces, Divya neutralised Zhu’s bishop activity early in the game and traded queens at the right moment with 22. Ne8 followed by 23. Qxd2, reducing attacking chances and steering the game towards a draw.

Her pieces remained well coordinated, and the central break with 38. d5 and 39. Rxd5 ensured complete balance. Divya countered Zhu’s early initiative with measured play to secure the draw.

Divya now has five points, two behind leader Vaishali.

Anna Muzychuk is joint-second on the table with 6 points after a draw against Lagno Kateryna

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Vaishali #capitalises #Goryachkinas #error #extend #lead #Divya #holds #Zhu"> FIDE Candidates 2026: Vaishali capitalises on Goryachkina’s error to extend lead; Divya holds Zhu India’s Grandmaster (GM) R Vaishali put herself in the driver’s seat to claim the FIDE Candidates title in the women’s section after she beat Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina in Round 11 on Saturday.Playing with black pieces, Vaishali kept the tie on balance into the middle game before capitalising on a blunder from her opponent (30. bishop c4) to take control of the game.The win consolidated Vaishali’s position atop the standings as she moved to seven points.GM Divya Deshmukh produced a solid, controlled performance against second-placed Zhu Jiner (6 points) to hold the Chinese GM to a draw, a result that helps Vaishali head into Round 12 with a clear one-point lead.ALSO READ: Highlight from Round 11 of FIDE Candidates as it happenedPlaying with the Black pieces, Divya neutralised Zhu’s bishop activity early in the game and traded queens at the right moment with 22. Ne8 followed by 23. Qxd2, reducing attacking chances and steering the game towards a draw.Her pieces remained well coordinated, and the central break with 38. d5 and 39. Rxd5 ensured complete balance. Divya countered Zhu’s early initiative with measured play to secure the draw.Divya now has five points, two behind leader Vaishali.Anna Muzychuk is joint-second on the table with 6 points after a draw against Lagno KaterynaPublished on Apr 11, 2026 #FIDE #Candidates #Vaishali #capitalises #Goryachkinas #error #extend #lead #Divya #holds #Zhu
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Highlight from Round 11 of FIDE Candidates as it happened

Playing with the Black pieces, Divya neutralised Zhu’s bishop activity early in the game and traded queens at the right moment with 22. Ne8 followed by 23. Qxd2, reducing attacking chances and steering the game towards a draw.

Her pieces remained well coordinated, and the central break with 38. d5 and 39. Rxd5 ensured complete balance. Divya countered Zhu’s early initiative with measured play to secure the draw.

Divya now has five points, two behind leader Vaishali.

Anna Muzychuk is joint-second on the table with 6 points after a draw against Lagno Kateryna

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Vaishali #capitalises #Goryachkinas #error #extend #lead #Divya #holds #Zhu">FIDE Candidates 2026: Vaishali capitalises on Goryachkina’s error to extend lead; Divya holds Zhu

India’s Grandmaster (GM) R Vaishali put herself in the driver’s seat to claim the FIDE Candidates title in the women’s section after she beat Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina in Round 11 on Saturday.

Playing with black pieces, Vaishali kept the tie on balance into the middle game before capitalising on a blunder from her opponent (30. bishop c4) to take control of the game.

The win consolidated Vaishali’s position atop the standings as she moved to seven points.

GM Divya Deshmukh produced a solid, controlled performance against second-placed Zhu Jiner (6 points) to hold the Chinese GM to a draw, a result that helps Vaishali head into Round 12 with a clear one-point lead.

ALSO READ: Highlight from Round 11 of FIDE Candidates as it happened

Playing with the Black pieces, Divya neutralised Zhu’s bishop activity early in the game and traded queens at the right moment with 22. Ne8 followed by 23. Qxd2, reducing attacking chances and steering the game towards a draw.

Her pieces remained well coordinated, and the central break with 38. d5 and 39. Rxd5 ensured complete balance. Divya countered Zhu’s early initiative with measured play to secure the draw.

Divya now has five points, two behind leader Vaishali.

Anna Muzychuk is joint-second on the table with 6 points after a draw against Lagno Kateryna

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Vaishali #capitalises #Goryachkinas #error #extend #lead #Divya #holds #Zhu

India’s Grandmaster (GM) R Vaishali put herself in the driver’s seat to claim the FIDE…

Highlights from Round 9 on Wednesday

It gave Praggnanandhaa more active pieces, and he followed it up with 35. Rxe4, a double attack that opened lines and targeted multiple weaknesses at once. Despite the activity, there was no decisive pawn break, while Wei Yi consolidated well and kept his king relatively safe.

Praggnanandhaa continued probing with moves such as Rc3, Rc7 and Nd6, but Wei Yi had sufficient coordination to neutralise the threats as the game ended in a draw.

Elsewhere, table-topper Javokhir Sindarov endured his second successive draw after letting a winning position slip against Matthias Bluebaum.

Anish Giri defeated Fabiano Caruana, and Andrey Esipenko held Hikaru Nakamura to a draw.

In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk drew with Tan Zhongyi, while Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Tournament #Vaishali #beats #Divya #jointtop #Sindarov #held #straight #draw"> FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 9: Vaishali beats Divya to go joint-top, Sindarov held to second straight draw R. Vaishali beat compatriot Divya Deshmukh to move into joint lead with Zhu Jiner after Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates on Wednesday.Zhu Jiner defeated Kateryna Lagno.Vaishali capitalised on Divya’s central misjudgement, with a decisive seventh-rank invasion proving the difference.Divya overcommitted with Nd3, conceding central control and creating a pawn weakness rather than a strength. Moves such as Rxc6 and Bc7 allowed Vaishali to activate her queen and rooks, taking control of the open files and diagonals.From 28. Rb1 to Rb7, Vaishali invaded the seventh rank, targeted weak pawns and, with Divya reduced to seconds on the clock, forced a resignation.In another key result, R. Praggnanandhaa pressed Wei Yi, particularly with move 32. Nd6, a strong move that put pressure on Black’s structure.ALSO READ: Highlights from Round 9 on WednesdayIt gave Praggnanandhaa more active pieces, and he followed it up with 35. Rxe4, a double attack that opened lines and targeted multiple weaknesses at once. Despite the activity, there was no decisive pawn break, while Wei Yi consolidated well and kept his king relatively safe.Praggnanandhaa continued probing with moves such as Rc3, Rc7 and Nd6, but Wei Yi had sufficient coordination to neutralise the threats as the game ended in a draw.Elsewhere, table-topper Javokhir Sindarov endured his second successive draw after letting a winning position slip against Matthias Bluebaum.Anish Giri defeated Fabiano Caruana, and Andrey Esipenko held Hikaru Nakamura to a draw.In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk drew with Tan Zhongyi, while Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva.Published on Apr 08, 2026 #FIDE #Candidates #Tournament #Vaishali #beats #Divya #jointtop #Sindarov #held #straight #draw
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Highlights from Round 9 on Wednesday

It gave Praggnanandhaa more active pieces, and he followed it up with 35. Rxe4, a double attack that opened lines and targeted multiple weaknesses at once. Despite the activity, there was no decisive pawn break, while Wei Yi consolidated well and kept his king relatively safe.

Praggnanandhaa continued probing with moves such as Rc3, Rc7 and Nd6, but Wei Yi had sufficient coordination to neutralise the threats as the game ended in a draw.

Elsewhere, table-topper Javokhir Sindarov endured his second successive draw after letting a winning position slip against Matthias Bluebaum.

Anish Giri defeated Fabiano Caruana, and Andrey Esipenko held Hikaru Nakamura to a draw.

In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk drew with Tan Zhongyi, while Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Tournament #Vaishali #beats #Divya #jointtop #Sindarov #held #straight #draw">FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Round 9: Vaishali beats Divya to go joint-top, Sindarov held to second straight draw

R. Vaishali beat compatriot Divya Deshmukh to move into joint lead with Zhu Jiner after Round 9 of the ongoing FIDE Candidates on Wednesday.

Zhu Jiner defeated Kateryna Lagno.

Vaishali capitalised on Divya’s central misjudgement, with a decisive seventh-rank invasion proving the difference.

Divya overcommitted with Nd3, conceding central control and creating a pawn weakness rather than a strength. Moves such as Rxc6 and Bc7 allowed Vaishali to activate her queen and rooks, taking control of the open files and diagonals.

From 28. Rb1 to Rb7, Vaishali invaded the seventh rank, targeted weak pawns and, with Divya reduced to seconds on the clock, forced a resignation.

In another key result, R. Praggnanandhaa pressed Wei Yi, particularly with move 32. Nd6, a strong move that put pressure on Black’s structure.

ALSO READ: Highlights from Round 9 on Wednesday

It gave Praggnanandhaa more active pieces, and he followed it up with 35. Rxe4, a double attack that opened lines and targeted multiple weaknesses at once. Despite the activity, there was no decisive pawn break, while Wei Yi consolidated well and kept his king relatively safe.

Praggnanandhaa continued probing with moves such as Rc3, Rc7 and Nd6, but Wei Yi had sufficient coordination to neutralise the threats as the game ended in a draw.

Elsewhere, table-topper Javokhir Sindarov endured his second successive draw after letting a winning position slip against Matthias Bluebaum.

Anish Giri defeated Fabiano Caruana, and Andrey Esipenko held Hikaru Nakamura to a draw.

In the women’s section, Anna Muzychuk drew with Tan Zhongyi, while Aleksandra Goryachkina drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#FIDE #Candidates #Tournament #Vaishali #beats #Divya #jointtop #Sindarov #held #straight #draw

R. Vaishali beat compatriot Divya Deshmukh to move into joint lead with Zhu Jiner after…