15th World Champion Viswanathan Anand shared his opinion on the FIDE Women’s World Chess Championship 2026. Vishy says that Vaishali Rameshbabu qualifying for the Match is good for Indian chess, and believes that Ju Wenjun may have difficulties with motivation in the Match.

Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand

15th World Champion

“Already the fact that Vaishali is a challenger, again after so many years without Koneru Humpy, is very good news for Indian women’s chess. And obviously if she wins, that will be magnified.

But I would still say that Ju Wenjun is very strong. It’ll be, six or seven years already, since she became World Champion, and I think it’s going to be harder for Ju Wenjun to motivate herself.

I think it will be much easier for Vaishali to do so. So, I think her chances are quite reasonable.”

The FIDE Women’s World Championship 2026 is the crowning match to determine the Women’s World Champion. Match features defending Champion Ju Wenjun and Indian GM Vaishali Rameshbabu, the winner of the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026. The location and date of the match will be announced by FIDE later this year.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE