FIDE Candidates 2026: Divya Deshmukh and Vaishali play out draw in Round 2

GM Divya Deshmukh played out a draw with GM Rameshbabu Vaishali in an all-Indian second round matchup at FIDE Women's Candidates 2026 in Cyprus on Monday.

The Women's Candidates tournament is proving highly competitive, with all eight players tied on one point after the first two rounds and no decisive results yet.

Divya, who was playing with the white pieces, had a slight advantage in the Queen's Gambit Declined variation after Vaishali left a pawn undefended in the middle game.

However, the Women's World Cup champion failed to convert her advantage, as Vaishali bravely sacrificed two pieces to regain the pawn and force a draw after 44 moves.

Pragg remains in joint lead

There was no decisive result in the second round of the Open section with draws on all four boards, including Praggnanandhaa's draw with Wei Yi of China on top board.

With this, Praggnanandhaa continues to remain in joint lead with Fabiano Carauna (USA) and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB), with 1.5 points from the two games.

Pragg played a solid game with the black pieces in the French Defence, successfully neutralising Wei Yi’s attacks and earning a draw in an equal position with opposite-coloured bishops.

On Tuesday, he will take on the joint leader Sindarov in the third round with the white pieces, and will be aiming to maintain his unbeaten streak.