The FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 is heading towards its business end, and India’s R Vaishali is on course to clinch the title.

Vaishali is also inching closer towards breaking an all-time record after having secured seven points at the end of Round 11.

Here’s the best individual score in Women’s Candidates:

The record for the most points scored in the history of the Women’s Candidates under the current double round-robin structure is held by Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina, who scored 9.5 points in the 2019 edition.

Vaishali has to score three points in the next three rounds to break the record and 2.5 points to go level with Goryachkina.

A tournament win will secure Vaishali’s qualification for the World Championship Final.

Published on Apr 13, 2026