#Vaishali #Indian #qualify #Womens #World #Chess #Championship #final">Is R Vaishali the first Indian to qualify for Women’s World Chess Championship final?
India’s R Vaishali clinched the FIDE Candidates 2026 title on Wednesday, after she topped the standing with 8.5 points at the culmination of the final round.
Vaishali will now take on China’s Ju Wenjun for the World Chess Championship title, with the clash likely to happen later this year.
Is R Vaishali the first Indian to become World Women’s Chess Championship challenger?
Vaishali is now the second Indian woman to become a challenger for the ultimate prize in women’s chess. In 2011, Koneru Humpy had qualified for the title clash after topping the FIDE Grand Prix series.
Humpy squared off against reigning champion Hou Yifan of China in the World Championship final in Tirana, Albania.
The Chinese GM dominated the eight-game tie, winning 5.5-2.5, to retain her title.
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.
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