FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 R7: Vaishali wins after Zhongyi’s blunder, reduces the gap with Anna

By admin April 6, 2026 Updated: April 8, 2026 0 comments

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) drew against Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) in Round 7 of FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 to maintain her sole lead. R Vaishali capitalized on her opponent, the 16th Women’s World Chess Champion, Zhongyi Tan’s (CHN) late blunder in the game. Vaishali is now just a half point behind the sole leader at 4/7. Divya Deshmukh missed a good opportunity against Kateryna Lagno.

Divya misses against Kateryna

Aleksandra Goryachkina drew against Jiner Zhu (CHN). Currently, Divya, Jiner, Kateryna and Goryachkina are at 3.5/7 each. Today is the second rest day of the event. Round 8 starts tomorrow Tuesday 7th April.

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) maintains her sole lead 4.5/7 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Anna – Bibisara: 0.5-0.5

Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2522) played three Classical rated games against Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2516). Anna won one and the remaining two ended in draws. Their fourth battle also ended in a draw.

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) – Bibisara Assaubayeva: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Divya – Kateryna: 0.5-0.5

Divya Deshmukh (2497) and Kateryna Lagno (2508) played only Classical rated game against each at Shymkent GP in 2024. It had ended in a draw. Divya got a substantial advantage after her opponent went wrong in the middlegame. However, she could not make the most out of her opportunity and her opponent escaped with a draw.

Divya Deshmukh missed a great opportunity against Kateryna Lagno | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Vaishali – Zhongyi: 1-0

R Vaishali (2470) have played nine Classical rated games against the 16th Women’s World Chess Champion, Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2535). Vaishali won one, Zhongyi four and the remaining four games ended in draws. Zhongyi first misplayed in a position where she had substantial advantage. Later in a favorable rook and same color bishop endgame, she blundered.

Position after 37…Ra1??

37…Ra1?? dropped the bishop immediately 38.Rxf6!+- Rf1+ 39.Ke2 Kxf6 40.Kxf1 and it’s over. Black played a few more moves to scrape something but the position was beyond salvageable.

R Vaishali scored her second consecutive win of the event | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

R Vaishali wins two in-a-row | Video: FIDE

Aleksandra Goryachkina – Jiner Zhu (CHN): 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Ninth Women’s World Chess Champion and Treasurer, FIDE Council – Chen Zhu (QAT), made the ceremonial first move on Anna Muzychuk (UKR) and Bibisara Assaubayeva’s (KAZ) board | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Replay Round 7 live stream

Replay Round 7 live commentary by GM Peter Svidler and GM Jan Gustafsson | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 7 games

Round 7 results

R Vaishali scored the sole victory of the round | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after Round 7

R Vaishali reduced the gap with the sole leader Anna Muzychuk | Graphic: FIDE

Round 8 pairings

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

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.