R Vaishali confronted a serious setback towards Jiner Zhu on Sunday, leaving the Ladies’s Candidates event vast open with simply two rounds remaining. The event will determine the subsequent challenger to reigning world champion Ju Wenjun.
CANDIDATES 2026: FULL COVERAGE
Enjoying with the white items, Vaishali had an opportunity to take sole management of the standings with a draw after a good run within the marketing campaign. Nevertheless, her aggressive method to safe a win backfired. Each of her defeats within the occasion have been towards Zhu. Vaishali and Zhu now share the lead with 7 factors every from 12 video games. In the meantime, Anna Muzychuk missed an important alternative after a expensive mistake allowed Aleksandra Goryachkina to safe a attract a tightly contested match.
Bibisara Assaubayeva dealt a blow to Russian hopes by defeating Kateryna Lagno in a powerful efficiency. The Kazakh participant is now simply half a degree behind the joint leaders, remaining firmly in competition because the event approaches its remaining levels.
India’s Divya Deshmukh misplaced to Tan Zhongyi, successfully ending the rostrum hopes for each gamers within the Ladies’s Candidates occasion. Within the Open part, Javokhir Sindarov maintained his dominant kind, securing a cushty draw with world No. 2 Hikaru Nakamura whereas taking part in white.
With 9 factors from 12 video games, Sindarov is near attaining one of the crucial commanding victories in Candidates event historical past. India’s R Praggnanandhaa additionally settled for a draw towards Andrey Esipenko, a consequence that diminished his possibilities. Whereas some alternative stays, Praggnanandhaa could must regroup and goal for a stronger efficiency within the subsequent cycle.
CANDIDATES 2026: ROUND 12 RESULTS
Outcomes spherical 12: Andrey Esipenko (Rus, 4.5 drew with R Praggnanandhaa (Ind, 5); Matthias BLuebaum (Ger, 5) drew with Fabiano Caruana (Usa, 6);); Hikaru Nakamura (Usa, 5) drew with Javokhir SIndarov (Uzb, 9) Wei Yi (Chn, 5) taking part in Anish Giri (Ned, 6.5).
Ladies: Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus, 5.5) drew with Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 6.5); R Vaishali (Ind, 7) misplaced to Jiner Zhu (Chn, 7): BIbisara Assaubayeva (Kaz, 6.5) beat Kateryna Lagno (Rus, 5.5); Zhongyi Tan (Chn, 5) beat Divya Deshmukh (Ind, 5).
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