Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Javokhir Sindarov delivered a flawless campaign to clinch the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 title on Tuesday, sealing the crown with a round to spare and setting up a blockbuster World Championship clash with D Gukesh later this year.The Uzbek Grandmaster remained unbeaten throughout the tournament at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, showcasing remarkable consistency against an elite field. His decisive moment came with a composed draw against Anish Giri, which confirmed his qualification for the World Championship even before the final round.
Sindarov’s journey began strongly with a win over Andrey Esipenko in Round 1, setting the tone for the tournament. From there, he built momentum with a series of controlled performances, blending solid defence with timely aggression. Even in tricky positions, Sindarov showed maturity beyond his years, ensuring he stayed ahead of the chasing pack.His ability to dominate oppositions, whether through wins or crucial draws, proved to be the defining factor. A steady stream of half-points, including a draw against Matthias Bluebaum in the later rounds, kept him firmly in control of the standings.With one round still to play, Sindarov’s lead is unassailable, underlining the dominance of his campaign. He will now face Wei Yi in the final round, but the result will not affect his position at the top.The tournament, boasting a prize pool of €700,000 (approximately Rs 7.6 crore), rewards consistency as much as brilliance, and Sindarov excelled on both fronts. ALSO READ: Javokhir Sindarov, D Gukesh’s likely World C’ship challenger, cracks code for sponsorship woes in chessThe winner takes home €70,000, along with the right to challenge for the biggest prize in chess.All eyes now turn to the World Championship, where Sindarov will take on reigning champion Gukesh in what promises to be a thrilling battle between two of the brightest young stars in the game.
