2026 FIDE Candidates Round 11
One interesting tactical moment in the Women's tournament
Goryachkina - Vaishali
There was a nice tactical sequence by the Women’s Candidates tournament leader who extended her lead by another win over the field today.
Black is more comfortable in this position, thanks to her better pawn structure; but otherwise the material balance and mutual potential passed pawns (White’s a-pawn, Black’s c-pawn) means that this position should be holdable for White, provided she finds the right plan. Her first priority should be freeing her rook.
30.Bc4??
A typical idea that has some strategic merit; trade off the bishop that could control the a8-promotion square for the potential passed pawn. It also aims to get rid of Black’s potential passed pawn on c5. But there’s a tactical problem with it, and Vaishali spots it very quickly.
30…Bc6!
31.Rxc5 b6
And now it’s clear why Bc4 was so bad: it blocks the rook’s path to safety. Goryachkina was forced to sacrifice the exchange with 32.Rxc6, and Vaishali won the ensuing endgame.