Javokhir Sindarov secures historic victory at Candidates Tournament

The 20-year-old Uzbek prodigy secured his championship status during a high-stakes match in the 13th round against his primary rival, Anish Giri of the Netherlands. Despite playing with the black pieces, Sindarov demonstrated exceptional precision in his defensive maneuvers. After a series of tactical exchanges, the game transitioned into a technically demanding rook endgame where the opponent eventually settled for a draw.

For Sindarov, this draw was equivalent to a definitive victory. With only one round remaining in the tournament, his total reached 9.5 points. His closest competitor, Anish Giri, remains in second place with 7.5 points, making it mathematically impossible for any rival to overtake the Uzbek GM regardless of the final round’s results.

By reaching this score, Sindarov has equaled the record set by Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2022, who also secured the tournament title with 9.5 points after 14 games with a round to spare. The Uzbek grandmaster now faces an opportunity to break this record in his final match against China’s Wei Yi.

This triumph ensures that the young grandmaster will compete against the current world champion, India's Dommaraju Gukesh, in a match for the World Chess Championship. The battle for the chess crown is expected to take place in late 2026, with the exact dates and venue to be announced by FIDE at a later date.

In addition to the sporting glory, Sindarov has secured significant financial rewards. He will receive 70,000 euros for taking first place, along with an additional 5,000 euros for every half-point earned. Based on his performance thus far, he has already accumulated a total of 95,000 euros in prize money.