Grandmaster Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa has praised his sister, GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, for her victory in the FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament. Vaishali made history by becoming the first Indian to claim this title after defeating Kateryna Lagno of Russia in the final round. Praggnanandhaa, along with their mother, supported Vaishali during the finals and shared a celebratory video online.
Vaishali’s exceptional performance secured her a direct shot at challenging Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship. With a remarkable score of 8.5/14, she emerged victorious in the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates. In a thrilling final match, Vaishali showcased her skills by defeating Kateryna Lagno, while Bibisara Assaubayeva settled for a draw against Divya Deshmukh.
Expressing her joy at a postgame press conference, Vaishali described her win as a dream come true. She highlighted her ability to maintain focus in critical moments, especially after a pivotal loss earlier in the tournament. In a separate event, Gukesh D had previously made history by winning the Candidates Tournament in 2024 and becoming the youngest challenger for the World Chess Championship.
Praggnanandhaa, who also competed in the men’s category, faced a setback in round 10 against Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan. A crucial error led to his defeat in the game, allowing Sindarov to claim victory in the men’s candidates. Sindarov is now set to challenge Gukesh D, the reigning 18th world chess champion, who secured his title by defeating Ding Liren of China in the 2024 World Chess Championship match in Singapore.
