The Real Battle Begins: Gukesh vs Sindarov — Who Has the Edge?

by Niklesh Jain - 20/04/2026

Right now, if there is one player dominating the global chess conversation, it is Uzbekistan’s 20-year-old Javokhir Sindarov. After winning the FIDE Candidates in brilliant style, he earned the right to fight for the world title against reigning World Champion Gukesh. In this article, we explore how he claimed the Candidates title and assess his upcoming World Championship clash with Gukesh. Photo: Maria Emelianova & Michal Walusza / FIDE

Sindarov with the Candidates trophy. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

Storming Sindarov Sweeps the Candidates Trophy, Leaving the Giants Stunned!

Before the FIDE Candidates began, most experts considered Fabiano Caruana the main favorite, with strong attention also on Praggnanandhaa and Hikaru Nakamura. However, after winning the FIDE World Cup, Javokhir Sindarov had already signaled his arrival at the very top level. Whether it was Freestyle Chess last year or the Tata Steel Masters this year, he showed he was ready to stay among the elite. Still, many believed the Candidates would be a completely different challenge, and for a debutant, it wouldn’t be easy. But once the tournament started, it felt like Sindarov had come only to win it!

Let’s break down his performance into two phases, just like the event itself—the first seven rounds, and then from round eight to the finish.

First Seven Rounds: A Hat-trick Against the Elite Shatters All Doubts

Before the tournament began, if anyone had said that Sindarov would defeat Praggnanandhaa, Fabiano, and Nakamura in three consecutive games, hardly anyone would have believed it. But Sindarov raised his level to such extraordinary heights that even these top names found it incredibly difficult to keep up with him.

Round 1

Sindarov vs Esipenko in action during Round 1. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

A strong start can set the tone for any tournament, and that’s exactly what happened with Sindarov. Against Russia’s Andrey Esipenko, he came out of the opening slightly under pressure, but with active play, he gradually improved his position and began posing difficult questions. He eventually finished the game with a checkmate. In this game, Sindarov showed his ability to suddenly turn the tide in his favor.

Praggnanandhaa, Caruana & Nakamura . Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

What followed next was something no one had expected. After drawing with Matthias Bluebaum in the second round, Sindarov stunned even the top experts by defeating all the major contenders one by one. He won three consecutive games—first against Praggnanandhaa, then Fabiano Caruana, and then Hikaru Nakamura.

What makes this even more impressive is that with each win, his opponents were fully aware that Sindarov was in top form. In an event like the Candidates, everyone gives their absolute best, so these victories were not due to any carelessness. Sindarov outplayed all three in every aspect of the game. Most notably, he was playing at great speed, and his opening preparation was simply outstanding.

Sindarov’s first victory against Praggnanandhaa. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

For example, against Praggnanandhaa, his piece sacrifice was brilliant—especially impressive as it came with the black pieces.

The moment Caruana accepted defeat. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

Against Caruana, he showed a strong grip right from the opening, fully exposing the weaknesses around Caruana’s king. He gave him no chance to come back, exchanged pieces at the right moments, and maintained excellent coordination among his own pieces—everything came together perfectly in this game.

Position where Nakamura thought for 67 minutes before playing h4. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

And then came the game against Nakamura—one he would probably rather forget. In the Noteboom Marshall Gambit, Sindarov’s brilliant preparation and his ability to play fast, precise moves turned the game completely one-sided.

These three victories were a dream start. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

With these three games, Sindarov had virtually won the Candidates on a psychological level. On one side was Sindarov, racing ahead like a high-speed horse with no one able to match his pace. It was clear he was playing the best chess of his life, and even players like Caruana began saying that they were rooting for whoever was facing Sindarov—just hoping someone could stop him. But by then, it was evident that history was heading in a different direction.

Then came round six, where it seemed that Wei Yi—whose tournament had already been going poorly—was still unable to recover from his psychological defeat against Sindarov in the World Cup. In a game that looked roughly equal, he spent over 45 minutes on a single move and eventually collapsed under time pressure against Sindarov.

By this point, Sindarov had reached an incredible 5.5/6, and with each passing round, it was becoming harder for the rest to stop him. In round seven, he drew with Anish Giri, crossing the halfway mark with a commanding 6/7 score.

Caruana was trailing by 1.5 points, while Praggnanandhaa and Anish were 2.5 points behind. It was clear that to catch Sindarov, not only did everyone need to perform better in the second half, but they also needed Sindarov to falter—which seemed highly unlikely.

Final Seven Rounds: Anish Fought a Losing Battle, Sindarov Stayed Unstoppable

As the second half of the Candidates began and players faced each other once again, it was clear that if Sindarov maintained balance—drawing most games and securing even a single win—no extraordinary performance from others would be enough to stop him. That’s exactly what he did. In the final seven rounds, Sindarov scored six draws and one win, collecting 4 points and finishing with a total of 10 points to become the winner.

Anish scored 5/7 in the second half. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

In the final seven rounds, Anish was the only player to score more than Sindarov, collecting a total of 5 points. In most Candidates events, such a performance could have been enough to fight for the title, but here he finished second with 8.5 points.

At one stage, there was still a chance—if Anish had managed to beat Wei Yi and Esipenko and then defeat Sindarov, he could have created real pressure. But that scenario never materialized.

The win that all but sealed the title

In Round 10, it was almost the same story for Praggnanandhaa. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

In the second half, specifically in round 10, Sindarov once again faced Praggnanandhaa. This time, Praggnanandhaa chose an aggressive approach, but once again, Sindarov sacrificed a piece and steered the game into a position very similar to their first encounter. Despite being a piece up, Praggnanandhaa’s unsafe king and lack of piece activity proved costly, and Sindarov defeated him for the second time—something hardly anyone had expected.

This win took Sindarov to 8 points, and from there, with solid and professional play, he drew against Caruana, Nakamura, Anish, and Wei Yi—going on to create history.

World Chess Championship 2026

The 2026 World Chess Championship is set to become one of the youngest in history, with two players around 20 years of age battling for the world title. This was expected to happen someday—but few imagined it would be as early as 2026.

In the current live ratings, Gukesh stands at 2732, ranked 17th in the world, while Sindarov has reached a career-best 2775, placing him 5th globally. On paper, both rating and current form make Sindarov the favorite—but is chess really just a game of numbers? Let’s try to understand that.

Dommaraju Gukesh

Current 18th World Chess Champion, Gukesh. Photo: Maria Emelianova / FIDE

Highest Ranking: 2794 (October 2024)
World Chess Champion: 2024–Present
FIDE Candidates Champion: 2024
FIDE Chess Olympiad Individual Gold Medal: 2022
FIDE Chess Olympiad Team Bronze Medal: 2022
FIDE Chess Olympiad Team Champion: 2024

2024 was the best year of Gukesh’s career, as he achieved results that are incredibly difficult to replicate. Notably, he emerged as the top performer at the Chess Olympiad twice—both times on board one, something even Magnus Carlsen has not achieved so far. His performances in the last two Olympiads set new benchmarks.

The Chess Olympiad is coming up once again, and this time it will be held in Uzbekistan. By then, the heat of the World Championship will already be building, and psychological battles will begin. For Gukesh, who thrives on challenges, there could be no better stage to make a strong statement.

Just two months before the Olympiad, he will also return to Norway Chess, where he is set to face Magnus Carlsen once again. His performances in these two events will have a major impact on his confidence heading into the World Championship.

As a journalist who has followed Gukesh since his early years, I strongly feel that he is set for a powerful comeback.

Gukesh vs Sindarov during Round 1 of Tata Steel 2026. Photo: Prajwal Bhat

The last classical game between Gukesh and Sindarov was played earlier this year at the Tata Steel Masters. Gukesh played a brilliant game and came close to winning after sacrificing his queen, but in the final moments, Sindarov managed to force a draw by launching continuous checks on Gukesh’s king with his queen.

How ready is the challenger Sindarov?

Sindarov with the Candidates trophy. Photo: Michal Walusza / FIDE

FIDE Chess Olympiad Team Champion: 2022
FIDE World Cup Winner: 2025
FIDE Candidates Winner: 2026

From the very beginning of his career, Sindarov often remained in the shadow of his compatriot Nodirbek Abdusattorov, one of the finest talents from the same nation. But now, after winning the FIDE World Cup and the Candidates, he has surged ahead in terms of achievements.

Sindarov’s rise feels very similar to what happened in India—when among Nihal, Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun, it was Gukesh who suddenly accelerated and went on to become World Champion.

As things stand, Sindarov looks completely ready. He has already won the World Cup, claimed the Candidates, and remains unbeaten in more than 50 classical games. His rating is at an all-time high.

However, there are still areas where he will be tested. Now, as the world number five, every opponent will approach him with a different mindset and deeper preparation. The real question is—how will he respond when he eventually loses a game or goes through a rough patch? His rival Gukesh is known for his resilience and ability to bounce back.

At the top level, maintaining a peak rating is one of the toughest challenges, and that responsibility now rests on Sindarov. On the positive side, he will have access to top resources and can build a strong team around him.

It will also be interesting to see whether Gukesh and Sindarov face each other at the Chess Olympiad. This will be Gukesh’s second World Championship and Sindarov’s first, and that difference in experience could bring pressure, especially in the early games.

One thing is clear—Sindarov is full of confidence, and Gukesh has found himself a truly formidable challenger.

Photo Credit: Maria Emelianova & Michal Walusza / FIDE

Overall, I believe Gukesh has a slight edge, mainly because he has played more games at the highest level compared to Sindarov. If Gukesh can regain his form, he has a strong chance to defend his World Championship title against him.

However, a player like Sindarov will push him to the limit and create every possible challenge. All in all, the upcoming World Championship could turn out to be one of the most exciting clashes in recent decades.