New Delhi, April 16: The Indian High Commission in Cyprus has commended Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu for her remarkable victory in the FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament.
Vaishali has made history by becoming the first Indian to win the FIDE Women’s Candidates title. She triumphed over Russia’s Kateryna Lagno in the final round on Wednesday.
The High Commission shared on social media, “A proud moment for India in Cyprus. Congratulations to Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu on her historic win at the FIDE Chess Women’s Candidates 2026.”
They further stated, “High Commissioner Manish and the team at the Indian High Commission in Cyprus extend their heartfelt congratulations on this outstanding achievement. With a score of 8.5/14, Vaishali has once again showcased India’s growing strength in global chess and secured her place in the upcoming Women’s World Championship match.”
The post continued, “Her performance was a remarkable display of courage and patience. This success is a matter of great pride for India and a special moment for Cyprus as the host of this prestigious global event. We wish her success in the upcoming title match.”
Following her direct victory with a score of 8.5/14 in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates, Vaishali will challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship.
In an exciting final round, Vaishali demonstrated exceptional technique to defeat Kateryna Lagno, while Bibisara Assaubayeva could only draw her game against Divya Deshmukh.
In a post-match press conference, Vaishali expressed, “This is amazing; it feels like a dream come true. When I lost to Zhu Jiner, everything suddenly opened up, and I’m glad I was able to focus in the last two rounds and give my best.”
In 2024, Gukesh became the winner of the Candidates Tournament and the youngest challenger for the World Chess Championship. He was the first Indian to win the Candidates and later became the 18th World Chess Champion by defeating China’s Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship match in Singapore.
Gukesh will face the new winner of the FIDE Candidates 2026, Javokhir Sindarov.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
Leave a Comment