Javokhir Sindarov Prepares for World Championship Clash Against Gukesh
The chess world is changing fast. A new generation of players is rising to the top. One of the brightest stars is Javokhir Sindarov. After winning the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026, Sindarov has earned the right to challenge World Champion D Gukesh. This match could mark the beginning of a new era in chess.
Sindarov’s journey has been incredible. He first shocked the chess world by winning the FIDE World Cup 2025. Now, he has taken an even bigger step by winning the Candidates. This upcoming match between Sindarov and Gukesh is special. For the first time, two young players from the same generation will fight for the World Championship title.
A Dream Come True
In an interview with Sagar Shah, Sindarov shared his feelings after the victory. He said he was very happy and called it a dream come true. It was one of the most special moments of his life.
Interestingly, he has not yet started preparing for the World Championship match. He wants to celebrate first with his friends and family before focusing on training.
Support from Home
Sindarov also spoke about the strong support he receives from his country. He had a memorable interaction with the President of Uzbekistan after his win.
He expressed pride in representing his nation and thanked the government for supporting chess and its players. He expects a grand welcome when he returns home, possibly even bigger than after his World Cup victory.
Short Celebration, Then Back to Work
Sindarov plans to celebrate for a few days. After that, he will quickly return to training. He has upcoming tournaments to play. So, he wants to stay focused and maintain his form. His coach, Roman Vidonyak, also supports this balanced approach.
Key Moments from the Tournament
Sindarov played some brilliant games during the event. His wins against R Praggnanandhaa were especially impressive. He played aggressive and dynamic chess, putting constant pressure on his opponent.
He admitted that luck also played a role. But overall, he believes he performed better than everyone else in the tournament. There was one difficult moment in his game against Matthias Bluebaum. He got tired and missed a better continuation. Instead of pushing for a win, he played safely.
However, he bounced back strongly in the next game.
A Brilliant Defensive Game
One of Sindarov’s most remarkable performances came against Fabiano Caruana. He was in a very difficult position and even considered resigning. But he kept fighting. Move by move, he defended carefully without making mistakes. In the end, he managed to save the game.
He believes this could be one of the best defensive games ever played. His mindset was simple: if you don’t blunder, your opponent cannot win easily.
Strong Opening Preparation
Sindarov’s opening preparation was another key factor in his success. He worked hard with his team throughout the year. His preparation helped him get strong positions early in many games.
He even came close to winning some games directly from the opening.
The Big Match Ahead
Now, all eyes are on his match against D Gukesh. Sindarov believes it will be a very exciting battle. Both players are young, talented, and hungry for success. He admitted that he has not played Gukesh much recently. While he had good results in the past, Gukesh has become much stronger now.
According to Sindarov, Gukesh has no clear weaknesses. When he is in top form, he is one of the best players in the world. Sindarov is not thinking about who the favourite is. Instead, he wants to enjoy the match and give his best.
A Light-Hearted Ending
At the end of the interview, Amruta Mokal asked a fun question. If Sindarov lived for 1000 years, how long would he play chess? He laughed and answered, “Probably 100 years. I love chess… but not that much. I also want to live life.”
This honest and confident attitude makes Sindarov even more exciting to watch. The upcoming World Championship match promises to be historic.
Photos: ChessBase
Source: CHESSBASE.in
