Sindarov makes historic checkmate at 19

From L-R: 1st runner-up GM Wei Yi (China), Winner Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) and 2nd Runner up Andrey Esipenko (Russia) seal their Candidates 2026 spot at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Arpora.

PANAJI

Uzbekistan has found a new sporting hero. And he is only 19. Uzbek sensation GM Javokhir Sindarov displayed inimitable tenacity in the first set of Rapid tiebreaks, to overcome the challenge of Chinese World Rapid no. 3 GM Wei Yi to win the coveted Viswanathan Anand Trophy in the final of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Arpora on Wednesday.

The Chinese GM Wei Yi may have had his slice of good luck to find his place in the final, and an escape in the first Rapid tiebreak in the final, but the fortune cookie did not prove third lucky and crumbled.

In the first 15+10 tiebreak, the 19-year-old rising star Sindarov responded with the Queen’s Gambit Declined against the seasoned Wei Yi. The game was petering out to a draw until Wei Yi blundered. The Chinese GM chose a g5 pawn push that dramatically tilted the scales in Sindarov’s favour. But under time scramble, the young Uzbek GM did not spot the gaffe, and the position was eventually neutralized by the resourceful Wei Yi as the players shook hands after 45 moves.

With the reverse in colours and in the Italian Game, the match-up had all the components for a riveting game. Sharp lines, attacking options and ample material were available to each player. As the players continued to fight tooth and nail into the contest, neither gave the other much of an inch. Few moves prior to the decisive play that dictated the outcome of the game, Wei Yi with white had a beautiful rook sacrifice opportunity that would eventually have led to a three-fold move repetition draw. But with barely much time on the clock, the Chinese GM overlooked that play and few moves on committed a blooper. An erroneous play of Rxd4 in lieu of Kg2 on the Chinese’s 57th turn was an offer the young Uzbek genius did not let go abegging. It was only a matter of time that the experienced Chinese GM resigned and Sindarov became the youngest FIDE World Cup winner with a 2.5:1.5 aggregate in his favour.

Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony later, Sindarov revealed that India has been a lucky country for him as a player. “I became the Asian U-7 champion in Delhi, then I played here with my team at the Chennai Olympiad in 2022 and we won the gold medal, and three years on, I am here in Goa, and happy to become the World Cup winner,” the ecstatic FIDE World Cup 2025 winner stated.