Sindarov On His Prospects Of Winning
Sindarov: “I know it will be very hard to win, but I want to try”
At just 20 years old, Javokhir Sindarov is the youngest participant in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. He arrives in Cyprus as the reigning World Cup champion, having conquered a 206‑player knockout field in Goa last November. In an interview with Chess.com during the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam Final in South Africa, Sindarov opened up about his path to qualification, his preparation for the Candidates, and his ambitions for the most important tournament of his life.
— Javokhir Sindarov
The Uzbek prodigy has already demonstrated that he can beat the world’s best. He has defeated both Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura in classical chess, and his fearless, attacking style has drawn comparisons to a young Mikhail Tal. Now, with the Candidates starting on Sunday, he is ready to write the next chapter.
Sindarov’s qualification was the stuff of fairy tales. Seeded outside the top 20, he navigated seven knockout matches, including a dramatic quarterfinal against GM Jose Martinez. After two classical draws, Sindarov lost the first rapid game – then won on demand to force a decider, which he took. “He played rapid and blitz very good,” Sindarov recalled. “I prepared with White very well and I played a very good game for rapid.”
That win put him in the semifinals, meaning qualification for the Candidates was nearly assured (the top three finishers qualified). “I was very happy with this match,” he said. From there, he defeated Nodirbek Yakubboev and then Wei Yi in the final, clinching the title in rapid tiebreaks. “Winning the World Cup for sure” was the highlight of his 2025, he said.
— Sindarov on his quarterfinal comeback against Jose Martinez
Despite the enormous stakes, Sindarov exudes a calm confidence. “I don’t feel any pressure because I am very young and I hope it will not be my last Candidates Tournament,” he said. “I will play many Candidates Tournaments!” That perspective, he believes, allows him to play freely – a dangerous quality in a tournament where many of his rivals carry the weight of expectation.
He also spoke about handling losses, a critical skill in a 14‑round marathon. “Some guys after they lose they are tilting and start thinking about if I didn’t win I am going out from tournament,” he noted. “But when I lose my game, I was like thinking, okay, don’t think about the tournament bracket or something like this, just play your game with White.”
This resilience was on display in his 2025 Esports World Cup campaign, where he admits he relaxed after securing a $50,000 prize, leading to a loss against Wei Yi. “That was my problem, I didn’t give my best… but you learn from your mistakes,” he said.
When asked about the favourites, Sindarow named Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura as the two “very big opponents.” Caruana, playing in his sixth Candidates, and Nakamura, in his fourth, represent the kind of experience that Sindarov lacks. “Of course they are very strong, so against them it will be a very hard match,” he acknowledged.
But he has already beaten both. At the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Weissenhaus, Sindarov upset Nakamura in the quarterfinals. Later that year, he defeated Caruana in classical chess – a result that put the chess world on notice. “I think I want to prepare very good for this tournament,” he said. “Everyone has a chance to win.”
— Javokhir Sindarov
Sindarov is tight-lipped about the specifics of his preparation, but he emphasised that his team – led by his long‑time coach GM Mukhiddin Madaminov – handles the heavy lifting. “Only my team works. I should focus on my next tournaments,” he said. Since the interview, he has played only one classical event (Tata Steel Masters 2026), suggesting that he has been deep in preparation for Cyprus.
He also revealed a key strategic insight: in the Candidates, a player must be unpredictable. “I am a very solid player usually,” he said, “but in the Candidates you must be unpredictable. I will try to play some interesting openings which surprise your opponents.”
This willingness to step outside his comfort zone could be the edge that separates him from the more predictable veterans.
Sindarov is now, alongside world No. 4 Nodirbek Abdusattorov, a flag‑bearer for the Uzbek chess explosion. The country that won the 2022 Olympiad has produced a generation of elite talent, and Sindarov hopes to inspire the next wave. “Hopefully, next year I want to see some strong players like me, Abdusattorov in my country,” he said. “I want to tell my big good luck for all of them.”
His rise has been meteoric: from world No. 37 in January 2025 to No. 12 on the latest FIDE rating list. A strong Candidates showing could propel him into the top 10 and cement his status as a perennial contender.
Sindarov opens his Candidates campaign on Sunday against Andrey Esipenko, another young talent who has beaten Magnus Carlsen. In the second round, he faces Matthias Blübaum. His first meeting with Caruana comes in round 4, and with Nakamura in round 6. The young Uzbek has already shown he can rise to the occasion – and he has nothing to lose.
“I know it will be very hard to win, but I want to try,” he said. With that attitude, he may well be the surprise of the tournament.
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