Grandmaster R. Vaishali has officially qualified for the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament after winning the 2025 FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This marks her second consecutive Grand Swiss title and places her alongside fellow Indians Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh as confirmed participants in the Candidates.
Vaishali clinched the title with 8 points from 11 rounds, tying with Russia’s Kateryna Lagno at the top. The tie-break, determined by the average rating of opponents, went narrowly in her favour, confirming her as the champion. It was her second straight Grand Swiss victory, and with it came the coveted Candidates berth, an event that decides the challenger for the Women’s World Championship.
For Vaishali, the past few months have been a journey of sharp contrasts. At the Chennai Grand Masters Challengers, she suffered a rare collapse, losing seven consecutive games and finishing last in the standings. The setback cost her rating points and, more importantly, dented her confidence to the point where she briefly considered stepping away from competition. Yet just weeks later, in Samarkand, she turned that disappointment into motivation, putting together a resilient run at the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss that not only restored her momentum but also sealed her place in the 2026 Candidates.
Her qualification also contributes to a broader landmark for Indian chess. For the first time, three Indian women will appear in the Candidates: Koneru Humpy, Divya Deshmukh, and now Vaishali. It is a testament to the country’s deepening bench strength in the women’s game, long carried by Humpy and Harika Dronavalli, but now increasingly defined by a younger generation.
Vaishali credits her decision to press on to her family’s encouragement, particularly from her younger brother, fellow Grandmaster R. Praggnanandhaa. Their household has already become a symbol of India’s chess renaissance, and with this latest result, the narrative of the “sibling duo” reaches another milestone.
The road to the Candidates will demand even greater preparation, but Vaishali’s victory in Samarkand already illustrates her resilience and ability to respond under pressure. From the lows of Chennai to the highs of Grand Swiss, her qualification is another sign of the growing presence of Indian women at the highest levels of world chess.
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