Sindarov advances to World Cup final after beating Yakubboev

Uzbek chess player Javokhir Sindarov has advanced to the final of the FIDE World Cup 2025 after defeating compatriot Nodirbek Yakubboev in the semifinals.

Photo: FIDE

The tournament, currently taking place in Goa, India, does not determine the world champion. Instead, it identifies participants for the 2026 Candidates Tournament – the event that decides who will challenge for the world chess crown.

In the semifinals, the two Uzbek players faced each other. Sindarov prevailed over Yakubboev in a hard-fought match with a score of 2.5:1.5. By reaching the final, he also secured a spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. This marks the first time in Uzbekistan’s chess history that a player has qualified for the Candidates.

Sindarov will now compete in the final against China’s Wei Yi.

Yakubboev, meanwhile, will play for third place against Andrey Esipenko, who is competing under the neutral flag. The winner of that match will also earn a place in the 2026 Candidates Tournament.

The 2026 Candidates Tournament will be held in Cyprus from 28 March to 16 April, featuring eight participants. Those who have already qualified include: Fabiano Caruana (United States), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Matthias Blübaum (Germany), Hikaru Nakamura (United States), Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan), and Wang Yi (China).

The winner of the Candidates will face the reigning world chess champion – India’s Gukesh Dommaraju.