Sindarov's record Candidates win earns world title shot

TL;DR

Javokhir Sindarov won the 2026 Candidates Tournament unbeaten with 9.5 points.
He scored six wins, a record in the double round-robin format since 2013, clinching after drawing Anish Giri.
Victory earns him a match against defending champion Gukesh Dommaraju for the world title.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)[[2]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess)

The story at a glance

Uzbekistan's Javokhir Sindarov, a 20-year-old rated fourth among eight players, won the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. He stayed unbeaten and secured the title in the penultimate round with a draw against closest rival Anish Giri. The win qualifies him to challenge Gukesh Dommaraju for the world chess championship later in 2026. This follows Sindarov's 2025 World Cup success.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)

Key points

Sindarov finished with 9.5/14 points, including six wins, three draws in the second half, and no losses.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)
Tournament held as a double round-robin with eight players; his six wins set a record since the format began in 2013.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)
Clinched outright victory after drawing Giri in round 13; Giri trailed but could not catch up.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)[[2]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess)
World number 11 entering; first Uzbek in Candidates since Rustam Kasimdzhanov, 2004 champion.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)
Will face Gukesh in a best-of-14 match; date and venue still to be determined.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)
Uzbekistan's rise shown by 2022 Chess Olympiad gold and stars like Nodirbek Abdusattorov.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)

Details and context

Sindarov entered as a surprise contender after winning the 2025 World Cup, rated behind top seeds but delivering consistent wins in Cyprus. The Candidates determines the challenger for the world title holder; Gukesh, 19, defended his crown after beating Ding Liren in 2024 but has struggled lately, dropping out of the top 10 with poor results in Prague and Menorca.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)

Gukesh admitted recent disappointment on Instagram and plans lighter training before Norway Chess in May, where he faces Magnus Carlsen. Carlsen, world number one, skipped title defense in 2023 due to low motivation after five straight wins.[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)

This matchup pits two young stars, with Sindarov potentially becoming Uzbekistan's second world champion in over 20 years.

Key quotes

“My performance in the last few events has been quite disappointing, not just for me, but for all of you who support me.”[[1]](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7195906/2026/04/14/javokhir-sindarov-candidates-tournament-chess/)

— Gukesh Dommaraju, on Instagram last month.

Why it matters

The Candidates win highlights chess's shift to younger talent from emerging nations like Uzbekistan. It sets up a generational world title clash between two players under 21, drawing global attention to the sport. Watch the championship match details, Gukesh's form recovery, and Sindarov's preparation later this year.

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