Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali has etched her name in chess history, successfully defending her title at the FIDE Grand Swiss and securing a coveted spot in the Women's Candidates 2026 tournament. The 24-year-old clinched the championship after a hard-fought draw against former world champion Zhongyi Tan of China in the 11th and final round. Vaishali finished with eight points, the same as Russia’s Kateryna Lagno, but was awarded the title due to a better tiebreak score.
This victory is a significant achievement for Indian women's chess, as Vaishali becomes the third Indian woman to qualify for the Candidates tournament, joining Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy. Humpy and Deshmukh had previously secured their spots by finishing first and second respectively at the last Women's World Cup. Vaishali’s win ensures that a remarkable three of the eight spots in the prestigious qualifying event will be filled by Indian players, marking a new era of dominance for the country in the women's game.
Following a difficult performance at the Chennai Grand Masters, she had initially decided against participating in the Grand Swiss. “I lost seven games in a row, it was hard for me... In a way, this Chennai experience is the reason I won the tournament,” she told ChessBase India. Her ability to bounce back from a challenging phase and defend her title for a second consecutive year highlights her resilience and mental fortitude.
In the open section, Indian Grandmasters were not as fortunate. While Anish Giri of the Netherlands won the tournament by crushing Hans Moke Niemann and securing his spot in the Candidates, the other slot went to Germany’s Matthias Bluebaum. India's Arjun Erigaisi and Nihal Sarin, who were in a good position for much of the tournament, faltered toward the end, missing out on a chance to qualify directly.
The Candidates tournament will determine the challenger for reigning world champion D Gukesh. With India already having three representatives in the women’s Candidates, the country’s chess community is filled with optimism. The emergence of players like Vaishali, Humpy, and Deshmukh is seen as a new chapter in Indian chess, one that could lead to a world champion in the women's category. Anish Giri, the open section winner, praised the competitive field, stating, "No matter the system you choose, it’s going to be hard, because you are to squeeze in eight players out of 20."
