Divya Deshmukh Beats Vaishali Rameshbabu in Round 1 of 6th Cairns Cup 2026
Divya Deshmukh defeated Vaishali Rameshbabu in the Opening Round of Cairns Cup 2026. Cairns Cup is one of the strongest women's super-tournaments in the world, and 3 Indian Players are taking part in it. Koneru Humpy started the event with a draw against Stavroula Tsolakidou. In another decisive result, Alice Lee defeated Alexandra Kosteniuk, and Tan Zhongyi won against Bibisara Assubayeva. The 2nd round will start at 12 PM Local Time / 10:30 PM IST. Photos: Lennart Ootes
Divya Starts with a Win
The 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad is next month, and all 3 Indian players taking part in the Cairns Cup will be seen in action representing Team India. The Lineups are out, and most probably this will be the last classical event for all 3 players. In the 1st round clash, Divya managed to put Vaishali under time pressure and won the game to gain the full point.
Position after 30.Bd3
Check out the full game
Results
Standings
Replay Round 1 Games
Photo Gallery: GCT
About the 2026 Cairns Cup
One of the strongest female super-tournaments in the world returns in 2026 with the sixth edition of the Cairns Cup, running concurrently with the Sinquefield Cup at the Saint Louis Chess Club from August 8–21. Tournament play runs August 10–19, featuring ten of the world’s top female players competing across nine rounds of classical chess for a historic $250,000 prize fund. Inspired by its mission to promote chess to women, the tournament was named in honor of club co-founder Dr. Jeanne Sinquefield’s maiden name.
The Field
The 10-player lineup features an elite international field: Humpy Koneru, Tan Zhongyi, Anna Muzychuk, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Divya Deshmukh, Vaishali Rameshbabu, Carissa Yip, Stavroula Tsolakidou, and Alice Lee.
Schedule
Prize Fund
The total prize fund is $250,000, representing the largest prize purse in the history of the Cairns Cup.
How to Watch
Follow every round with professional commentary led by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan on the Saint Louis Chess Club's YouTube channel and on Twitch. For spectators in Saint Louis, day passes include standing-room access to both the Sinquefield Cup and Cairns Cup playing halls, live Grandmaster commentary, and complimentary food, snacks, and beverages.
Format
The Cairns Cup is a 10-player, 9-round single round-robin classical tournament. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. Players receive 1 point for a win, ½ point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.
Venue: Saint Louis Chess Club
The Saint Louis Chess Club stands as the premier global destination for competitive play, anchoring Saint Louis as the “Chess Capital of the United States.” This state-of-the-art facility features a world-class tournament hall designed to accommodate everyone from local enthusiasts to legendary Grandmasters. As a non-profit educational organization, the club serves as the prestigious home for all major U.S. Championship events as well as the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz, the Sinquefield Cup, the Cairns Cup and more.
Important Links
Cairns Cup: Official Site, Tickets, Regulations