GM Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) at the press conference after winning the title at the FIDE World Cup 2025.
PANAJI
Elite chess is getting younger and younger, with coveted titles being won by youth off and again. And the most recent addition to the list is the 19-year-old Uzbek sensation, GM Javokhir Sindarov. The rising star overcame the challenge of the seasoned Chinese GM, Wei Yi in the first segment of the rapid tiebreaks in the final of the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Arpora on Wednesday to be crowned the youngest World Cup winner.
Responding to a question posed by The Goan at the press conference ahead of the closing ceremony at the venue, the Uzbek prodigy revealed that the emotions back home were high and he was pleased to win the title for his people. “20 minutes ago, I spoke on call with our president (in Uzbekistan) and he was very happy. He congratulated me on the result. I am really very happy. Uzbekistan chess players are very strong and we deserve it. The tournament was very hard. I don’t know how it will be in Uzbekistan. But it is only the start of my chess career. I do not want to celebrate a lot because I have a lot of tournaments in December which I need to go and play and do well. I will be in Uzbekistan just for 3 or 4 days and then I will fly to South Africa for Freestyle Chess. So, I do not have time to rest or celebrate my win. But for those days back home will surely be the best days in my life,” the level-headed Uzbek prodigy stated.
On his strategy to better his experienced Chinese opponent in the tiebreaks in the final, Sindarov revealed he came prepared with a plan. “Wei Yi is a very strong player in short time control, but my plan was to take it to 5+3 as I was prepared with tricky lines for this. My plan was to play solid in 10+10 or 15+10. At some moment, I thought I would get a chance as I had a better preparation than him. In the second game (15+10), I felt he was not confident and it was time to take my chance. At some moment my position was tricky and I even offered a draw but I think he started playing for a win and he was very low on time like down to 20 seconds and he missed my attack. And I found the winning moves,” Sindarov divulged.
The precocious Uzbek chess talent did admit he realized he had a chance in the first tiebreak game itself. “I felt I had a winning position but I could not find the move on the board. If you saw my last position, when I placed my bishop on b5. I thought at this moment I was winning, but totally forgot he can exchange the bishops and it would be a completely drawn position. My pawn on g4 I it was to go on g2 it was completely winning, but I forgot this and the position was also a draw. After the game, my brother (second GM Mukhiddin Madaminov) told me my position was completely winning and at that moment I was very sad. My plan was to play solid and a draw was also not bad, and I think I played a very good game,” Sindarov explained.
On family support at the tournament, the World Cup winner expressed delight. “They came before my tie-breaks in the semifinal against compatriot, Nodirbek Yakubboev. I only knew that my brother, Islombek was coming because I needed some chocolates. In the evening, he told me he was already here. And as I was going down from my room, I saw that my grandfather and my grandmother were also here and I was really very happy,” a visibly pleased Sindarov said.
He also added to state that presence of his family did not weigh any pressure on him. “I had prepared very well, and if you do so, in my opinion, you will not feel any pressure. I had prepared a lot and I was always confident on my chess and it helped me. Of course, I am very happy that my brother and grandparents came to support me in this special moment of my life,” the prodigious Uzbek GM asserted.
While he basks in the glory of being a World Cup champion, Sindarov looks at the bigger picture. “I will now try to do my best in the Candidates (in Cyprus), win the tournament and play the World Championship,” the ambitious Uzbek number 2 remarked.
While Sindarov knows there are lot of good players at the Candidates, he opines that Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura will be the toughest to beat. But he is particularly looking forward to renew his rivalry against Indian GM Praggnanandhaa who he has a score to settle against since age-group level days. “I think Pragg will qualify (for Candidates 2026) and it will be a very interesting match. I played him for the first time when I was seven, and at that time I knew he will be one of the top players because he beat me. Because of him, I did not win the age-group championship in 2013, and he had become the champion,” Sindarov wryly admitted.
While it is no secret his good friend, and second at the World Cup, GM Mukhiddin Madaminov, played his part in his new-found success in Goa with morale support and sound preparations, Sindarov keeps another card close to his chest which he is unwilling to reveal. “My coach Roman Vidonyak was unable to come to India, and so I asked Madaminov if he was free and he replied, yes. Madaminov and I are close friends, and we have played a lot of tournaments together. He helped me a lot in this tournament, but I also have one of the best openings specialists in the world and I do not want to reveal his name,” Sindarov stated. Meanwhile, Madaminov, has promised to stay on board to help his close friend do well in the prestigious Candidates 2026 tournament, after which he will look to pursue his chess playing dreams as well.
