New Delhi: Vaishali Rameshbabu on Wednesday created history on the Mediterranean coast by winning the 2026 Women’s Candidates Championship, earning her the right to challenge China’s defending champion Ju Wenjun for the women’s chess world crown later this year.Entering the final round, VaishaliDestiny is not entirely in her own hands. She needs to beat Katerina Ranio and drop points from Bibisara Ashobayeva. The first part of the equation came when Divya Deshmukh sealed a crucial draw with Bibisara in Cyprus, opening the door for Vaishali.
Vaishali seized the opportunity and spoke under pressure. In the 14th round, she defeated Ranio with a white piece, capping off an exciting performance in the marathon. Her composure and fighting spirit stand out, especially in high-stakes situations where every step counts.Vaishali’s performance in the tournament showcased resilience and consistency. She held her ground with key wins against formidable opponents such as Ragnow, Tan Zhongyi and Alexander Goryachkina, as well as important draws with top contenders such as Anna Muzchuk. Despite her setbacks, including two losses to Jin’er Zhu (her only losses in the tournament), she bounced back each time.All eyes now turn to her exciting showdown with five-time world champion Ju Wenjun, who is known for his calm and collected performance. The upcoming game will be an exciting battle between the experienced and rookies. With a €300,000 prize pool and global attention on the event, Vaishali has etched her name in history. R Vaishali will receive a guarantee of at least €28,000 for winning the Women’s Candidates Championship. In addition, she will receive a bonus of €2,200 for every half-point scored during the competition, thus increasing her total prize money.
