FIDE Grand Swiss 2025: Vaishali Rameshbabu defends title to qualify for Women's Candidates
(Courtesy : @FIDE_Chess/Twitter)
Vaishali Rameshbabu is the third Indian woman to qualify for the Candidates.
India celebrated another proud moment in chess as Vaishali Rameshbabu clinched the FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 title on Monday at the Silk Road EXPO in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
With this victory, the 24-year-old not only secured her spot in the Candidates Tournament 2026 but also made history by becoming the first player, male or female, to win the Grand Swiss title twice (2023 and 2025) in the short history of the event.
Vaishali Rameshbabu also joins Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh as the only Indian women to qualify for the 2026 Candidates tournament.
In the eleventh and final round, Vaishali faced former Women’s World Champion Tan Zhongyi of China. Playing with the Black pieces, she needed at least a draw to secure the championship and the Candidates spot.
The game began with the English Opening, and both players went for solid, theoretical lines. The queens came off the board as early as the 11th move.
Over the course of 43 moves, neither player was able to create real winning chances, and the game ended in a relatively uneventful but important draw for the Indian.
The half-point from this final game took Vaishali to 8 points out of 11, level with Kateryna Lagno of Russia. However, thanks to superior tiebreaks, Vaishali emerged champion.
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Lagno also qualified for the Candidates being the runner-up of the event. Now, only one final spot remains, which will go to the winner of the FIDE Women’s Events Circuit (2024–25).
The winner of 2026 Candidates will challenge the reigning Women’s World Champion, Ju Wenjun, for the World Championship title.
After the historic win the Indian chess legend Vishy Anand congratulated Vaishali. “Congratulations for a spirited performance.
“We are proud to have mentored and trained her to get a shot at the world title. Her determination and hardwork are truly commendable… To win the Grand Swiss twice is an achievement that few can attain,” he wrote on his Twitter.
Who won FIDE Women’s Grand Swiss 2025 tournament?
India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu won the title, securing her second Grand Swiss crown after previously winning it in 2023.
What does this win mean for Vaishali Rameshbabu?
The victory booked her spot in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, making her the third Indian woman to qualify for the event.
Who else has qualified for 2026 Candidates from the Grand Swiss?
Kateryna Lagno of Russia qualified as runner-up, while Tan Zhongyi of China had already secured her place earlie
Which other Indian players have qualified for 2026 Women’s Candidates?
Apart from Vaishali, Koneru Humpy and Divya Deshmukh also have booked their place in the 2026 Candidates.
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Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.
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