Chess Candidates: Pragg Loses Ground; Divya Jumps into Joint Lead

TORONTO: The FIDE Candidates 2026 tournament saw contrasting fortunes for the Indian contingent in the latest round. Indian prodigy R. Praggnanandhaa suffered a setback, losing his match and slipping in the standings.

However, in the Women’s section, Divya Deshmukh delivered a stellar performance, defeating Anna Muzychuk to jump into a joint lead. This victory puts Divya in a prime position as the tournament enters its final stages, making her a top contender to challenge for the World Championship title.

Meanwhile, fellow Indian Vaishali R secured a “miraculous win” to take the second spot in the women’s standings, keeping the Indian hopes for a double-title sweep alive. In the Open section, Gukesh D remains a steady presence, though the role of “seconds” and technical analysis has become a major talking point among experts as the pressure of the final rounds intensifies.