New Delhi: Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov claimed the 2026 Candidates Chess Tournament on Tuesday and is set to challenge India’s D Gukesh for the World Chess Championship title later in the year.
The 20-year-old chess player secured the victory with a round to spare after a draw with Anish Giri in the 13th round. He remained flawless throughout the tournament maintaining his supremacy and remaining unbeaten till the last.
Meanwhile, R Praggnanandhaa was the only Indian representative in the 2026 Candidates men’s Open section, having qualified for the big tournament by emerging victorious in the 2025 FIDE Circuit. As far as the title match between Gukesh and Sindarov later in the year in concerned, it is expected to be the youngest-ever world championship match in the history of the game.
Host city, dates yet to be finalised
For the world title, the host city and exact dates are yet to be finalised but the event is scheduled for later in 2026. In the most recent game between the two at the Tata Steel Chess 2026, Gukesh reached a winning position with a blistering queen sacrifice but Sindarov defended resolutely to secure a 78-move draw.
Sindarov’s only classical victory against Indian champion Gukesh came in May 2022. But as far as their clash in the world title match is concerned, Sindarov holds an upper edge as he is on an unbeaten 50-match streak in classical chess while Gukesh has had a tough start to the year.
His struggles included a career-low ninth place finish in in Prague and a fourth place finish in Menorca where he lost both games to compatriot Nihal Sarin.
Meanwhile, Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali stayed in contention for the top prize by drawing with China’s Zhongyi Tan, even as Bibisara Assaubayeva blew the title race wide open with a splendid victory over Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk in the penultimate round of women’s Candidates Chess.
(With PTI inputs)