Gukesh Dommaraju and Vaishali Rameshbabu set to compete for world chess titles
Lalla Lory’s sports insights covers it all for you
VAISHALI CREATES HISTORY, BECOMES WOMEN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENDER
R. Vaishali made history by winning the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026, sealing her victory with a final round triumph over Kateryna Lagno.
The FIDE Candidates Tournament is one of the most prestigious tournaments in chess. The winner earns the right to challenge for the ultimate crown at the world chess championship.
With this victory, R. Vaishali has become the official challenger for the Women World Chess Championship, where she will now face the reigning Women’s World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun in what promises to be a historic clash.
D. GUKESH IS THE REIGNING WORLD CHESS CHAMPION (OPEN)
on the other side, D.Gukesh is already the reigning world chess champion in the open section. At a remarkably young age, he stunned the world by defeating Ding Liren in the 2024 World Chess Championship, marking the arrival of a new era.
Gukesh’s rise symbolises India’s growing dominance in global chess, a journey that began with legends like Viswanathan Anand and now continues through a fearless new generation.
A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIAN CHESS
Later this year, both the FIDE World Chess Championship and FIDE Women’s Chess Championship are scheduled.
India stands in a remarkable position with a reigning World Chess Champion in the open section and Challenger in the women’s section.
This opens up the incredible possibility of India holding both the men’s and women’s world titles simultaneously.
It is a plausible dream for Indian chess fans around the globe, a dream but not far from becoming reality. This could mark the pinnacle of India’s dominance in global chess. We are all rooting for D. Gukesh and R. Vaishali.