Vaishali Rameshbabu won the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus and earned her shot at the world championship. The victory capped a long journey for the Indian grandmaster, who left the press conference emotional and overwhelmed after clinching the title.
In an interview with Charlize van Zyl, Vaishali described the win as a dream realized for her entire family. She spoke about her games throughout the tournament and reflected on the passion that drives her chess. "Chess makes me happy," she said, underscoring the motivation behind her push to the world stage.
Vaishali's path to the Candidates was not quick or easy. She had been grinding toward this moment for years, and the tournament victory validated all that work. Now she gets her chance to face the reigning women's world champion in what shapes up as the year's biggest match in women's chess.
The Indian contingent has produced several strong players in recent years, but Vaishali's Candidates win stands out. She beat the field in Cyprus and earned the right to compete for chess's highest prize. That's what the tournament was designed to determine, and she delivered.