Uzbek chess grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov secured his place in the World Championship match after winning the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus on Tuesday.
Sindarov finished the event with 9.5 points, two points ahead of second-placed Anish Giri. The victory came with one round left to play following a draw against the Dutchman, according to aljazeera.com.
The 20-year-old's performance was marked by a dominant run through the tournament. He won six of his 13 games and remained undefeated throughout the competition.
"It was the hardest week in my life. I even slept really bad the last few days. I am very happy to finish this tournament with a win," Sindarov said, as reported by aljazeera.com.
A clash of generations
Sindarov will now face India’s Gukesh Dommaraju for the world title. Gukesh claimed his championship status in 2024 after defeating China’s Ding Liren.
The tournament was initially viewed as a final opportunity for veteran players to challenge for the crown. However, American heavyweights Fabiano Caruana and Hikary Nakamura failed to pose a serious threat to the younger competitors.
Sindarov expressed focus on the preparation required for the upcoming match. He noted that while Gukesh possesses more experience at this level, he relies on his support system.
"I do not want to think a lot about the upcoming World Championship match right now. I know it will be a very hard match," Sindarov said.
"Gukesh has an experience of playing at this level. But I have a very good team. I have a lot to work on, and I will work a lot for this and take my chances."
While the rise of players like Sindarov has fueled speculation regarding a potential return by Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian remains out of the classical championship cycle. Carlsen previously relinquished his title due to a lack of motivation.
Organizers have not yet announced the venue or the specific date for the championship match.
