FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026 R8: Divya Deshmukh swerves Anna Muzychuk, joins the lead with her, Vaishali, Jiner and Lagno, now World no.9

By admin April 8, 2026 0 comments

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) suffered her first loss of the event against Divya Deshmukh in Round 8 of FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026. Despite getting a winning position, Anna fumbled and went on to lose her game. R Vaishali drew against Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ). Kateryna Lagno and Jiner Zhu (CHN) defeated their compatriots Aleksandra Goryachkina and Zhongyi Tan (CHN) respectively.

Five players at 4.5/8

At the end of the eighth round, five women – Divya Deshmukh, R Vaishali, Anna Muzychuk, Jiner Zhu and Kateryna Lagno are at 4.5/8 each. They are closely followed by Aleksandra Goryachkina and Bibisara Assaubayeva at 3.5/8 each. The Women’s event is having a very close battle.

Divya Deshmukh defeated Anna Muzychuk to join the leaders’ pack | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

R Vaishali drew against Bibisara Assaubayeva to also join the leaders’ group | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Anna – Divya: 0-1

Anna Muzychuk (UKR, 2522) drew the first game against Divya Deshmukh (2497) at this event. Anna got herself a substantial advantage in the queen and double rook endgame.

Position after 36…Qf8

37.Qg4+ Kh8 38.Qh5 bxc4 39.Rxf6 exf6 40.Re8 Rc8 41.Rxf8+ Rxf8 42.bxc4 would have been winning for White. The game continued 37.cxb5 axb5 38.a5 Rc5?? White was presented a second chance 39.Qg4+Kh8 now 40.Qg7+ Qxg7 41.hxg7+ Kxg7 42.a6 would have been winning for White. Instead, White played 40.b4 Rc4 41.R6e4 Rxe4 42.Rxe4 and White’s advantage reduced. White made a few more mistakes allowing her opponent to get back in the game, equalize and eventually turn things around in her favor and win the game.

Anna Muzychuk (UKR) lost a game against Divya Deshmukh which the former ideally should not have | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Divya Deshmukh is now World no.9 among women with a live rating 2517.8 | Source: 2700chess.com

Bibisara – Vaishali: 0.5-0.5

Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ, 2516) drew the rematch against R Vaishali (2470).

Bibisara Assaubayeva (KAZ) – R Vaishali: 0.5-0.5 | Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza

Lagno – Goryachkina: 1-0

Aleksandra Goryachkina (2534) made a mistake early in the middlegame arising out of Scotch Game against Kateryna Lagno (2508). The former lost a pawn and could not recover for the rest of the game.

Kateryna Lagno – Aleksandra Goryachkina: 1-0| Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Interview with Kateryna Lagno | Video: FIDE

Zhongyi – Jiner: 0-1

Zhongyi Tan (CHN, 2535) misplayed in the rook and double bishop vs rook and double knight endgame against Jiner Zhu (CHN, 2578). The former paid a heavy price for it.

Zhongyi Tan (CHN) – Jiner Zhu (CHN): 0-1 | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

FA Moshe Slav, Deputy President, International Physically Disabled Chess Association, made the ceremonial first move on Anna Muzychuk (UKR) and Divya Deshmukh’s board | Photo: FIDE / Yoav Nis

Replay Round 8 live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by GM Peter Svidler and GM Jan Gustafsson | Video: FIDE

Replay Round 8 games

Round 8 results

Divya Deshmukh, Kateryna Lagno and Jiner Zhu won their respective games in Round 8 | Graphic: FIDE

Standings after Round 8

Divya Desmukh, R Vaishali, Anna Muzychuk, Jiner Zhu and Kateryna Lagno are at 4.5/8 | Graphic: FIDE

Round 9 pairings

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

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.