FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 R2: Divya and Jiner miss good chances

By admin March 31, 2026 Updated: May 13, 2026 0 comments

The second round of FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 also witnessed four draws. However, two players – Divya Deshmukh and Jiner Zhu (CHN) had great opportunities to score wins against R Vaishali and Kateryna Lagno. Both of them missed their chances and the day ended without a victory for any player.

No decisive games

Unlike the first round, in the second one, Divya Deshmukh and Jiner Zhu got themselves decisive advantages against R Vaishali and Kateryna lagno respectively, thanks to their opponents’ inaccuracies. Unfortunately for them, neither Divya nor Jiner could make the most out of those chances.

Divya – Vaishali: 0.5-0.5

Divya Deshmukh (2497) and R Vaishali (2470) have played four Classical rated games against each other. Divya won two of them and the remaining two ended in draws. She could have scored her third Classical win against Vaishali.

Position after 34.Qf3

Vaishali made a mistake 34…Ne4? Her opponent, correctly punished 35.Rxb7 Rxb7 36.Rxb7+- Ng5 now White needed to force queen trades 37.Qg4 as the resultant rook and knight endgame would have been winning for her. Instead, she opted for 37.Qg3? allowing Black to get back in the game Rxc5 and the game soon liquidated into rook endgame where draw became the only result.

Divya Deshmukh missed a great opportunity against R Vaishali | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Vishy Anand made the ceremonial first move of the round on Divya and Vaishali’s board | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Press Conference with R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh | Video: FIDE

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) – Zhongyi Tan (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Jiner Zhu (CHN) missed a good opportunity against Kateryna Lagno | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) – Aleksandra Goryachkina: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Jiner Zhu (CHN) – Zhongyi Tan (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, made the inaugural first move on Jiner Zhu and Zhongyi Tan’s board | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Round 1 in progress | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Vishy Anand joined Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler on the official broadcast | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 2 live stream

Replay Round 2 live commentary by GM Peter Svidler and GM Jan Gustafsson | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 2 games

Round 2 results

Divya Dsehmukh and Jiner Zhu missed good chances | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after Round 2

All eight players are at 1/2 each | Graphic: FIDE

Round 3 pairings

Vaishali Rameshbabu — Anna Muzychuk
Aleksandra Goryachkina — Divya Deshmukh
Jiner Zhu — Bibisara Assaubayeva
Zhongyi Tan — Kateryna Lagno

Schedule

FIDE Candidates Open and Women will take place from 29th March to 15th April. Tie-breaks, if needed, will be played on 16th April. Rest days are on 2nd, 6th, 10th and 13th April 2026.