Uzbek Chess Grandmaster Sindarov to Face Indian Rival Gukesh for World Title

Uzbek Grandmaster Wins Candidates Tournament with Dominant Performance

Javokhir Sindarov, a 20-year-old Uzbek chess grandmaster, has emerged as the winner of the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, securing victory with a round to spare. Sindarov’s impressive performance saw him win six out of his 13 games, while losing none, and move to 9.5 points, two clear of second-placed Anish Giri.

Sindarov’s victory sets up a World Championship match against India’s Gukesh Dommaraju. In the previous round, Giri failed to convert a winning position against China’s Wei Yi, allowing Sindarov to take the lead.

The tournament was seen as an opportunity for older players to challenge for the world title, but American Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura did not pose a serious threat. Gukesh won the title in 2024 by defeating China’s Ding Liren in their match.

Sindarov expressed his happiness at finishing the tournament with a win, despite struggling with sleep in the final days of the event. He acknowledged that he will face a tough challenge against Gukesh, who has experience playing at this level. Sindarov also mentioned that he has a good team and is working hard to prepare for the World Championship match.

A precise date and venue for the World Championship match have yet to be announced.

Source: Al Jazeera