Javokhir Sindarov: The Triumph

Beginnings

I was four and a half years old. A friend went to kindergarten, where they gave chess lessons; one day, I went with him. I liked it, and I asked my grandfather to teach me how to play. The next day, the kindergarten teacher was amazed when she saw that I not only knew how to move each piece but also how to put them in their starting positions. She asked to speak to my parents to tell them. My passion for chess was so great from that first day that, while the other children were taking naps, I, who hated sleeping, would play chess, and that made me the happiest person in the world.

A week after learning to play, I participated in my first tournament, where everyone beat me. At the closing ceremony, I sat in the front row, sad, watching them hand out the medals. My grandfather noticed, gave me small gifts, and said, ‘This is your prize.’ Six months later, I was the best player in my family. That’s how it all started.

Javokhir Sindarov, Leontxo García Interview, El Pais

When I was four I won tournaments, under seven something like this. And also when I was seven I won USB championship under 10. So yeah I think I'm big talent. In my opinion I have very, very good talent in every game but chess is something special.

I love to learn every game and play at a maximum high level because I don't like to lose. I'm always learning let's say some card games, some video games. I was always watching some video to beat my friends [laughter].

I really love to always win. So yeah, that's [laughter] why I think I have some talent for games.

Javokhir Sindarov, Charlize Van Zyl, FIDE

Sindarov obtained the International Master title in October 2017, and Grandmaster aged 12 years and 10 months, one year later. He described how even when he became a Grandmaster he was still playing Counter-Strike 3-4 hours a day. After the pandemic, Sindarov increased his work in chess which led to a leap of improvement.

Zachary Saine: In an unreleased interview I had with you in Germany. You said to me the following words. I quote, "After becoming grandmaster, I lost all motivation. I spent time without chess. players my age, Pragg and Abdu, worked a lot and became 2650 players and I was 2550." If you could go back in time and talk to that young Javokhir who had lost a little bit of hope, what words would you say to him?

Javokhir Sindarov: Yeah, it's a nice question. I mean I will try to work a little bit more with chess but still I'm very happy how I spend my life. Because I mean when these guys work 10 hours in day I spent my time every day with Counter-Strike [Laughs]. Yeah it's real!

I mean 2019 when I become Grandmaster I spent, and like I mean everyday, probably 3-4 hours with Counter-Strike and quarantine really helped me a lot because at this time I was really tired to play Counter-Strike and I thought like it's time to really spend, it's time to work with chess and after quarantine I really start working very hard and my life really changed a lot.

Javokhir Sindarov, FIDE Press Conference

Sindarov is from Uzbekistan, where chess is funded by the government. This has helped the rise of Uzbek players. In 2021, Nodirbek Abdusattorov won the World Rapid Championship. In 2022, the Uzbek Team (Abdusattorov, Yakubboev, Sindarov, Vakhidov, Vokhidov), won the Chess Olympiad.

On January 14, 2021, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev issued a decree “On measures for the further development and popularization of chess and enhancing the system of training chess players.”

Under the Decree, the project “Chess in school” will be implemented through the expansion of the chess education system in elementary school, as well as holding competitions among students and schools, promoting chess among kids and teenagers, and many other important measures.

FIDE, President of Uzbekistan issues chess decree

Training and Development

Roman Vidonyak is Sindarov's coach.

He had previously coached Vladimir Fedoseev for 3 years. His system as a coach is to have a sparring partner for practice. Fedoseev suggested Sindarov for this role. From January 2025 onwards Vidonyak began coaching Sindarov over 9 training camps that lasted 9-14 days each, 8 hours a day without engines.

Vidonyak has a system made of 17 specific skills in chess, with thousands of positions chosen to practice these skills. He rates someones performance by giving them a grade from C- to A+. Vidnoyak has stated that Sindarov has not gotten an 'A' grade yet. That shows how rigorous his system is.

Roman Vidonyak and Javokhir Sindarov. Photo: Wolfgang Galow – galow-creativ.de

Quarantine changed my life and after that I started working very hard and after quarantine ended I won against Firouzja in the World Cup which surprised the world when I was very young, 15 years old at that moment. But I worked a lot before this tournament, before World Cup and I played very well.
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When you win against someone 2750 you get a lot of motivation and probably this is a key moment. I started working a lot with chess and my life changed a lot. But with Roman I really started working with chess a lot.

Javokhir Sindarov, Charlize Van Zyl Interview, FIDE

I get up at 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., I dedicate time to my family during the day and to my friends from nightfall onwards. On those days, I only rest. But when I’m at training camps with my team, everything changes; we work between eight and 10 hours a day, including physical and psychological preparation, and we try to reserve three or four hours to watch movies or do other activities unrelated to chess.

Javokhir Sindarov, Leontxo García Interview, El Pais

Before also I work a lot but the problem is sometimes it's really very boring to work with chess and I'm bored to work and I start playing a lot of things video games and this all small things. But with Roman it's always very interesting to work, he has a lot of interesting puzzles, exercises and I'm always enjoying working with him and I never know how eight hours goes very fast.
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We have good company when we work, minimum three or four players. I mean that's always very funny and very interesting. Probably every student loves work with him.
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We are doing a lot of interesting things and it's always funny to work and sometimes we are fighting with puzzles who find faster. I mean it's always very, very interesting also we are working very hard sometimes. So we doing a lot of things which is important, not only working on chess 8 hours very hard. I mean if you work 8 hours and very seriously, after 5 days you will be gone, but we are doing a lot of interesting things and it's always very fun to work with him.

Javokhir Sindarov, Charlize Van Zyl Interview, FIDE

Roman Vidonyak coaches both Javokhir Sindarov and Bibisara Assaubayeva (who qualified to the Women's Candidates). Sindarov and Assaubayeva are also a couple. Photo: Wolfgang Galow – galow-creativ.de

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Mukhiddin Madaminov is a good friend of Sindarov and was a second for Sindarov in the 2025 World Cup.

A 'second' is someone who helps a player prepare for tournaments/matches by preparing opening lines for them. Typically in a big match, a player will not reveal who their seconds are as this could reveal what openings they might play (as seconds can be chosen for their knowledge for in specific opening system).

Goa was my first time as a second, like in general as a professional second. But after Goa, before the candidates we had some training camps so I helped here, so I'm happy to be here with him and support him.
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I think I have a big role in this, to keep good mood and good atmosphere in the training camp. Also in chess I can be a good sparring partner, I can play some games with Javokhir and also we can play some Blitz games. So in percent I can say I think I help Javokhir 60% more as supportive, as a friend, and 40% in chess.

Mukhiddin Madaminov, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

The top three finishers in the 2025 World Cup qualify to the Candidates, which made this an important tournament for Sindarov. The World Cup is a match knockout format. This requires defeating players in multiple matches. Sindarov won in his initial section and defeated Frederik Svane and José Martínez Alcántara to make it to the Quarterfinals.

Sindarov then defeated fellow Uzbek Nodirbek Yakubboev 2½-1½ to qualify for the Candidates.

Sindarov went on to win a thrilling final against Wei Yi 2½-1½, emerging victorious from an initial field of 206 players.

Madaminov and Sindarov celebrate after his World Cup Win. Sindarov's brother in background. Michał Walusza/FIDE

Our government support every sport very well, especially chess. Even our President loves chess. When I became World Cup champion, when we met with my President, he told me "I believe you will play for World Championship match and win".

I mean he always supports us which is very important and any of our winnings, like doesn't matter some open tournaments, some round robin tournaments, our government really support very well and they always meet us at the airport. It's fantastic.

Javokhir Sindarov, FIDE Press Conference

After his win at the World Cup, Sindarov was given the title Honored Athlete of Uzbekistan and also received a three-room apartment as a Presidential gift. His coaches also received some sweet cash bonuses.

As stated in the decree, the honorary title was awarded in recognition of Sindarov’s substantial contribution to the development and popularization of chess in Uzbekistan; his dedication, determination, strong will, mastery, and patriotism; his outstanding performance in representing Uzbekistan on the global stage; and his role in promoting the reputation of New Uzbekistan, as well as inspiring young people with love for the motherland, national pride, and a sense of honor.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awards Javokhir Sindarov, Дониёр Тухсинов, Kun.uz

Overall Sindarov's Candidates team consists of his coach IM Roman Vidonyak, good friend GM Mukhiddin Madaminov and two secret 'seconds'.

The Candidates

Round 1: Sindarov vs Esipenko

Sindarov vs Esipenko. Round 1. Michał Walusza/FIDE

Yeah, I'm very happy. Some moment I was thinking like I'm just outplayed and I was really very sad during the game, but then when I got my chances I think I played really very well and I'm very happy with my result today, and I hope tomorrow I will play a better game than today.

Javokhir Sindarov, Theo Wait Interview, Lichess

In Round 2, Sindarov drew against Blübaum.

In Round 3, he faced Praggnanandhaa.

Praggnanandhaa vs Sindarov. Round 3. Yoav Nis/FIDE

Roman Vidonyak: Yes this was very amazing, very good. First game is like a Tal game, yes. It was very, very good. But preps [opening preparation] our side was really good, but I think also preps of our opponents were not so good as I expected.

Sagar Shah: Everyone says they worked really hard for this tournament. All the players whom I have spoken to, they have said they have spent lot of months to work.

Roman Vidonyak: Yes. But you have to have luck in preparation. You prepare hundreds of positions and variations and which variation we have on board. It's also a matter of luck, yes.

Roman Vidonyak, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

The tournament situation: After 3 Rounds, both Sindarov and Caruana are leading with 2.5/3. They will now play each other in Round 4 in one of the most important games of the tournament. Sindarov has the White pieces and plays the Queen's Gambit. Caruana goes into the Accepted Line:

Sindarov vs Caruana. Round 3. Yoav Nis/FIDE

Yes, I think yesterday we worked very good with my seconds and we prepared very well entirely, checked every line which he could play.

Today I feel like he could play the QGA [Queen's Gambit Accepted]. So I thought I needed to repeat the line, and before I go to the round I really repeated this line and I was lucky to get this, and I knew the line until move 16 and everything was fantastic.

Javokhir Sindarov, Theo Wait Interview, Lichess

Charlize Van Zyl: Which game are you proudest of in this event?

Javokhir Sindarov: I really loved game against Fabi with White. It's a very clear game, I find best moves, best tactics, also time pressure. This game is fantastic in my opinion against Fabi. In my opinion, it's something like another level, I showed what can I do. So I really like this game.

Javokhir Sindarov, Charlize Van Zyl Interview, FIDE

After the game there was a rest day.

And many things depend on the tournament situation. As Javokhir mentioned it before, it was lucky when we have rest days and after the rest day we were playing with black. It was in many games after the rest day we were playing with black, so it's tricky to play with black as you know.

Mukhiddin Madaminov, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

In Round 5 he plays against Nakamura who lost to Caruana in the first round and also missed a win against Wei Yi.

Sindarov yawns while waiting for Nakamura to move during his 67 minute think. Round 5. Yoav Nis/FIDE

Sindarov is on 4.5/5, 1 point ahead of Caruana. In Round 6 Sindarov plays Wei Yi, whose tournament is not going so good after blundering a piece agaist Caruana and making another blunder against Nakamura in a simple endgame.

5.5/6

I think the beginning of the tournament was very lucky. So when you are starting very well, other players will be nervous. So they have to gain more points to..., and Javokhir was like plus five and I think it was a little bit luck and also hard work. And I have to say that we had very good and very perfect teamwork before the Candidates and also during the Candidates.

Mukhiddin Madaminov, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

In Round 7, Sindarov played against Giri.

Theo Wait: There was a moment in this game where you were also very much up on the clock and had a slight advantage there. Is this you know still some of the strategy that we're seeing, trying to pressure your opponents on the clock and squeeze out some winning edge there?

Javokhir Sindarov: Yeah, I think something similar in this position, you always need to push from time because otherwise it's really very hard to do mistakes. In my opinion I played really very well but he also defend fantastic and the last position was very surprising, it's a draw. He was playing draw with only moves, but still in my opinion I was thinking I will win this, but I was really surprised.

Javokhir Sindarov, Theo Wait Interview, Lichess

6/7

a 1.5 point lead over Caruana.

Sindarov said that his coach said that if he was on plus one halfway through, then he will likely win the tournament. Sindarov is on plus five here.

Rest Day

I think one of the most important things is that here our conditions are very well. So it was time to have a rest and get energy back. So we had rest days, played some games, some paddle and also there was a game lounge. So we played PlayStation a little bit in the rest days, yeah, also Counter-Strike.

Mukhiddin Madaminov, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

In Round 8 Sindarov drew against Esipenko. The gap widened to 2 points after Caruana's loss to Nakamura. Meanwhile Giri won against Praggnanandhaa to jump to shared second with Caruana at this point.

In Round 9, Sindarov faced Blübaum.

Giri won against Caruana, bringing him to 7.5 points vs 9 points for Sindarov. Giri was now the closest contender after Caruana's collapse.

Roman Vidonyak: Yes, of course it's not so hard to explain. It is two moments. First moment is endurancy because stress and pressure was so high that Javokhir's brain was tired and a tired brain says to you "Okay make exchange and go into the safe endgame and don't calculate too much till the end of forcing variations."
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If we train the endurancy and if a Grandmaster has more and more endurancy, his brain is better in these things and says "Okay you can double check, you can think about other moves" and he has energy to do it, and he [Sindarov] has not. He [Sindarov] has enough energy of course, but not for every move and for every game in this tough tournament.

Roman Vidonyak, Chessbase India, Sagar Shah Interview

After this game Sindarov was upset with the missed opportunity. Vidonyak helped him by advising him to play normally and continue what he's been doing.

In the Round 10 he played Praggnanandhaa.

This win widened the gap between Sindarov and Giri (2 points).

Anastasiya Karlovich: So, what is the news from Uzbekistan? Do people follow your every move? And do we have a chess boom there? What's going on?
Javokhir Sindarov: Actually, I don't know because I'm not checking any news on my phone. If I check it takes a lot of energy and you are starting to think 'what are my parents doing', something like this. So that's why I'm completely not checking anything. After the game I just come to my room and play videogames or prep. So that's all I'm doing because otherwise this is big, I mean it's impossible to survive from this big emotions - pressure.
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Javokhir Sindarov: I talked with coach after I missed this winning move [against Blübaum]. I talked with him a lot and he motivated me and told me everything was good, he told me "Just play good chess and you are playing better than everyone else here". So he gives me motivation and I feel really very well before this game.
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I mean last days I thought about this a lot and you know I had a big stress because yesterday I didn't win a completely winning position and that's why my coach said to me "If you deserve this title you will get it. If you don't, we will work a lot to become strong. So don't think a lot about results, just play your chess" and I'm doing this.

Javokhir Sindarov, FIDE Press Conference

Sindarov made a quick draw with Nakamura in Round 10, maintaining his 2 point lead.

Rest Day

Now Sindarov has the Black pieces against Caruana in Round 11.

Caruana vs Sindarov. Round 11. Yoav Nis/FIDE

Somehow after I survived this game I felt like I will take this tournament, it's a key moment and the second half after Fabi should be clear for me to win this tournament.

After this game I started sleeping better. After Fabi I not get a big stress, and I'm very good. But this game against Fabi takes really a lot of energy and it's a very long game.

Javokhir Sindarov, Charlize Van Zyl Interview, FIDE

Sagar Shah: Which game of Javokhir did you like the most from this event?

Roman Vidonyak: Yes against Fabi in second half, it was brilliant defense and Josif Dorfman called me and said "Oh man so strong, this draw is better than 10 wins".

Sagar Shah: I remember actually, I also was super impressed because at some point when Fabi played the queen trade and won the a6 pawn I thought that Javokhir will collapse now because it's not his kind of position. He loves a active position.

Roman Vidonyak: It was not his kind of position one year ago.

Sagar Shah: Exactly! And here he found incredible defensive ideas, this Kg6, h5, gxh5, Kh6.

Roman Vidonyak: We solved about 200 positions with defense and played defense games and it's one of very important skills on my system. That's important, yes.

Roman Vidonyak, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

Round 12 featured a quick draw for Sindarov against Nakamura. Giri had Black against Wei Yi and had multiple winning positions but couldn't convert the point. Another rest day followed.

In the penultimate round he was up against Giri who still had a theoretical chance of winning the tournament, but a very unrealistic one. If Sindarov draws this game, then he wins the Candidates mathematically.

Javokhir Sindarov officially wins the Candidates Tournament after drawing against Anish Giri. Niki Riga/FIDE

Javokhir Sindarov and Bibisara Assaubayeva after the Press Conference. Niki Riga/FIDE

Yeah. First of all, I would like to tell my big thanks for everyone who support me during this tournament. I mean it's such a long tournament and I mean every round was very hard.

And after the first half like I told you, this last week will be probably one of the hardest weeks in my life and I mean it was really very hard and I even sleep very bad last days, but right now I'm very happy to finish this tournament very good. And thanks for everyone my family, my coach, and my seconds.

Javokhir Sindarov, FIDE Press Conference

Javokhir Sindarov: He's a very good coach, he support me during this tournament, he also support Sara and we are doing very well. So I'm very happy and thanks for him a lot and thanks for everyone who support me in this tournament especially him and Mukhiddin, also my two seconds, my family. Yeah it was a very good day for me.
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Amruta Mokal: But you know today when you were playing the end moment, Mukhiddin Madaminov was walking, he was very very nervous at that point of time. So the first moment when you met him? How was the feeling like?

Javokhir Sindarov: What can I say for him? I mean he need to believe for me a little more, yeah. ha-ha-ha [Laughs]. Because why he can be nervous if he know me very well and I mean this last position which we played like last hour it's impossible to lose.

Javokhir Sindarov, Amruta Mokal Interview, ChessBase India

Charlize Van Zyl: Take me back to the night after round 13. What happened? Who was the first person you spoke to? How did the celebrations go?

Javokhir Sindarov: Yeah, it was a very fantastic day for me, for our country. Everyone started celebrating after this draw and I got like a million messages from my friends, from my parents, family, also from our federation, government. Yeah, it's a huge victory for our country. Everyone was very happy and the next day our President also congratulated me in a phone call which surprised me and I'm really very happy to win this tournament.

Javokhir Sindarov, Charlize Van Zyl Interview, FIDE

Sindarov finished off with a quick draw against Wei Yi, ending with 10/14 points, a new record in the modern Candidates format.

The Closing Ceremony took place the next day, where Sindarov was awarded the trophy by Vishy Anand.

https://www.youtube.com/live/urzYeh2PYdE

Javokhir Sindarov: I know I will play against one of the strongest players in the world. We have both, probably we have both equal chances. I mean probably because he played in a match, he has more experience and a little bit more. But our playing strength is very close.

So what can I say it will be very interesting match and probably a lot of fans will watch this. I mean you know like it's from young age we have a strong generation with Uzbekistan, India and after many years it's happened, we will play for World Championship match which will be very interesting.

Javokhir Sindarov, FIDE Press Conference

Amruta Mokal: Are you friends with Gukesh? Like because you've been in a similar age group.

Javokhir Sindarov: Uh I mean, I'm not a good friend with Gukesh. I am good with Arjun and Nihal. But with Gukesh I mean we are, I mean okay, we talked a little bit but we didn't meet a lot in the tournaments. So that's why he become very young world champion, yeah so.

Amruta Mokal: But would you be excited for his style of play? You know challenging somebody who is kind of very similar to yours.

Javokhir Sindarov: Yeah of course, I mean he's youngest champion in history and of course one of the best players in the world. He has a lot of strong skills and it will be very exciting match. I will be very excited for this match, and he has a very good team. What can I say? I will just say good luck to him.

Javokhir Sindarov, Amruta Mokal Interview, ChessBase India

Roman Vidonyak: "I believe he [Sindarov] will be the strongest chess player in the world. He has to do... [chuckles] a lot of training. We know elements on which we have to train of course."
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Sagar Shah: What I saw about Javokhir is someone who flows, you know he's so relaxed, he's so happy and on the board he has focus. Suddenly in press conference he's joking he's laughing.

Roman Vidonyak: I call him 'Sunny Boy', but now I call him 'TNT'. Do you know this song from AC/DC? TNT.

Sagar Shah: No.

Roman Vidonyak: You you have to hear it. It's 100% Javokhir. TNT. Yes. Dynamite.

Sagar Shah: So he basically can look like very relaxed, chill guy, but on the board he's super focused.

Roman Vidonyak: Wow [shakes head knowingly]. He's a killer - Enemy! [Smiles and Laughs]

Roman Vidonyak, Sagar Shah Interview, ChessBase India

In Uzbekistan, a ceremony was held for Sindarov where he was awarded the Mehnat Shuhrati (Order of Labor Glory) by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh7uKBDCXJE

Sindarov will challenge Gukesh in the 2026 World Championship. Most people say Sindarov is the favourite because of his current form and Gukesh's current slump. Sindarov's coach Vidonyak, says that at their prime forms, Sindarov has a 53% chance of winning and that he's scared of 'Monster Gukesh' who won Olympiad and Candidates in 2024.

Sindarov won the Candidates due to these factors:

• Immense Talent - Sindarov is a very dynamic player who is sharp at calculation and doesn't have clear weaknesses.
• Competitive Nature - Sindarov wants to win any type of game.
• Strong training methods - Roman Vidonyak's system leading to improved skills and strong prep.
• Good social support - Training with Vidonyak is fun and social, Mukhiddin Madaminov is a good friend, Sindarov is very close with Bibisara Assaubayeva.
• Government support - Gives resources and also provides sense of duty to win.
• Early wins - Sindarov's early wins put pressure on his opponents.
• Luck - Esipenko could not convert his advantageous position in Round 1, many rest days took place before Black games allowing more prep.