Explained: How India's R Vaishali caged Lagno's 'dragon' to claim historic Women's Candidates 2026 title

Playing white pieces while chasing a result, players often get greedy and make more adventurous, attacking moves on the board, weakening their defence in the process. Vaishali had white pieces. She was up against Russia's Kateryna Lagno, a mother of four and quite brilliant at keeping a poker face on the table. Vaishali had to be brave to overcome the challenge posed by the veteran, and she did so with a clinical precision that belied the stakes.

Explained: How India's R Vaishali caged Lagno's 'dragon' to claim historic Women's Candidates 2026 title
Playing white pieces while chasing a result, players often get greedy and make more adventurous, attacking moves on the board, weakening their defence in the process. Vaishali had white pieces. She was up against Russia's Kateryna Lagno, a mother of four and quite brilliant at keeping a poker face on the table. Vaishali had to be brave to overcome the challenge posed by the veteran, and she did so with a clinical precision that belied the stakes.