Sindarov & Vaishali stay on top @ Cyprus

Indian Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu improved her lead to a full point scoring over former Women’s World Championship Challenger GM Aleksandra Goryachkina in the 11th round of the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. With three crucial rounds to go, two time FIDE Grand Swiss winner GM Vaishali Rameshbabu leads the field with 7.0 points. Sharing the second spot were GMs Zhu Jiner (China) and Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) at 6.0 points each. In the Open section, GM Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) tightened his grip with a solid draw against US Champion GM Fabiano Caruana. The FIDE World Cup Goa winner GM Sindarov now leads with 8.5 points, followed at a distance by GM Anish Giri (Netherlands) at 6.5 points.

In the only decisive game of the day, an alert GM Vaishali Rameshbabu defeated GM Aleksandra Goryachkina spotting a fine rook trap that fetched her the full point after 45 moves. In a Queen’s Pawn Game where the game was proceeding with symmetry, a likely draw appeared on the cards. A middle game tactic missed proved to be the undoing of GM Goryachkina who gave up after her rook got snared in the middle. Sharp play combined with an eye for the tactics gave GM Vaishali her fourth win. A good one point cushion in the home run along with consistent play might take the Indian to the top of the podium. In the next round GM Vaishali faces top seed GM Zhu Jiner, followed by GMs Tan Zhongyi and Kateryna Lagno. Team Vaishali would work overtime to make the best of the opportunity that could take the hard working Indian into the Women’s World Championship.

It happened to be a day of peace in both sections, where it was Indian Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu who landed the only win for the day. Games in the Open section between GMs Praggnanandhaa vs Bluebaum, Caruana vs Sindarov, Nakamura vs Wei Yi, Giri vs Esipenko ended in draws. Among the draws it was Indian GM Praggnanandhaa who had the best chance to secure a win against German GM Matthias Bluebaum. It turned out to be miss between the cup and the lip for Chennai based Grandmaster who’s only win so far came in the first round. 

With three rounds to go, the two point lead for GM Javokhir Sindarov is a mountain to climb for second placed GM Anish Giri. Though mathematical equations remain, the Uzbek would be a big favorite to coast home and take the chequered flag. The battle on the Women’s section is likely to be closer and the one that holds form and nerves should emerge victorious.

Similar to every Candidates Tournament since 2013, this event will be a 8 player double round-robin tournament. The winner of the Candidates 2026 tournament will earn the right to play the next FIDE World Chess Championship against the reigning World Chess Champion Gukesh Dommaraju. The winner of the 2026 FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament will earn the right to challenge Women’s world champion Ju Wenjun.

Round 12 starts by Sunday, 12th April at 8:45 AM ET / 2:45 PM CEST / 6:15 PM IST.

Round 11 Results (Open): Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (4.5) drew with Matthias Bluebaum (5.0), Fabiano Caruana (5.5) drew with Javokhir Sindarov (8.5), Hikaru Nakamura (5.0) drew with Wei Yi (5.0), Anish Giri (6.5) drew with Andrey Esipenko (4.0).

Round 11 Results (Women): Kateryna Lagno (5.5) drew with Anna Muzychuk (6.0), Tan Zhongyi (4.0) drew with Bibisara Assaubayeva (5.5), Zhu Jiner (6.0) drew with Divya Deshmukh (5.0), Aleksandra Goryachkina (5.0) lost to Vaishali Rameshbabu (7.0).

Aleksandra Goryachkina (2534) – Vaishali Rameshbabu (2470) 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c3 e6 4. Bf4 c5 5. e3 Qb6 6. Qb3 Bd7 7. Nbd2 Be7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Rc8 10. Ne5 Be8 11. Bg5 Nc6 12. f4 Na5 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. f5 h6 15. Bh4 exf5 16. Rxf5 Nc6 17. a3 Bd8 18. Raf1 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Bc6 20. Ref5 Rc7 21. h3 Rd7 22. Bg3 Bc7 23. Bxc7 Rxc7 24. Re5 Re8 25. Rff5 Rxe5 26. Rxe5 g6 27. dxc5 bxc5 28. c4 Kf8 29. cxd5 Bxd5 30. Bc4 Bc6 31. Rxc5 b6 32. Rxc6 Rxc6 33. Bb5 Rc2 34. Nc4 Nd5 35. b3 Rc3 36. Ba4 Nxe3 37. Nxb6 Rc2 38. Bb5 Rxg2+ 39. Kh1 Rb2 40. Nd7+ Ke7 41. Nc5 Kd6 42. Nb7+ Kd5 43. b4 Ke4 44. Nc5+ Kf3 45. Bd3

45…f5 0-1

Picture & Graphics courtesy: Michal Walusza / Yoav Nis / Niki Riga / FIDE

Event photo gallery: https://www.flickr.com/photos/fide/

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Official Site: https://candidates2026.fide.com/