Javokhir Sindarov vs Anish Giri (Photo: Niki Riga/FIDE) NEW DELHI: Javokhir Sindarov produced a faultless campaign on Tuesday to secure the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 title, sealing the crown with a round to spare and setting up a sensational World Championship showdown with D Gukesh later this year.The Uzbek grandmaster remained undefeated throughout the tournament at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, showing remarkable consistency against an elite field. His decisive moment came with a close draw against Anish Giri, which confirmed his qualification for the World Championship before the final round.
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Exclusive Nihal Sarin: 2026 Candidates Predictions, Anish Giri’s ‘Drawish’ Label & More #chess Sindar’s journey started strong with a 1st round win over Andrey Esipenko that set the tone for the tournament. From there, he built momentum with a series of controlled performances, combining solid defense with timely aggression. Even in tricky positions, Sindarov showed maturity beyond his years, ensuring he would stay ahead of the chasing pack.His ability to dominate the opposition, whether through wins or decisive 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 to go, Sindarov’s lead is unassailable, underscoring 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, which boasts a prize pool of €700,000 (approximately Rs 7.6 crore), rewards consistency as much as brilliance and Sindarov has excelled on both fronts. READ ALSO: Javokhir Sindarov, likely challenger to D Gukesh at World C’ship, cracks code for chess sponsorship woesThe winner takes home €70,000 along with the right to challenge for the highest prize in chess.All eyes now turn to the World Championships, where Sindarov will take on reigning champion Gukesh in what promises to be a thrilling battle between two of the game’s brightest young stars.
