Bengaluru: Vaishali Rameshbabu, India's brightest hope at the Candidates tournament, has taken sole lead in the Women's Candidates. The 24-year-old Indian has jumped into the top spot after a remarkable play in recent rounds, winning three of her last five games. With aggressive play and fiery sacrifices, Vaishali has made a timely bid for first place.
In Round 10, she played out a 42-move draw against Anna Muzychuk, protecting her lead. Zhi Jiner, her co-leader going into the day's play, will perhaps rue rejecting a draw by repetition only to lose against Bibisara Assaubayeva.
In the Open section, Javokhir Sindarov has been on an astonishing run, making the rest of the field look inconsequential. The 20-year-old Uzbek defeated India's R Praggnanandhaa for his record-breaking sixth win in this Candidates tournament, leading the field by two points with four rounds remaining.
