Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov delivered another stunning performance on April 3, 2026, defeating American star Hikaru Nakamura in round 5 of the Candidates Tournament.
How did Sindarov outplay Nakamura?
Despite playing with the black pieces against the world’s No.2 ranked player, just behind Magnus Carlsen, Sindarov took control early in the opening. His precise and confident moves quickly placed Nakamura under pressure.
Nakamura spent more than 67 minutes thinking over his 13th move, allowing Sindarov to gain a significant advantage on the clock. Under increasing positional pressure, the American grandmaster was eventually forced to resign.
What does this victory mean for the standings?
This win marked Sindarov’s fourth victory in the tournament and his third in a row. With 4.5 points out of 5 games, he remains the clear leader of the competition.
He has also made history by becoming the first player ever to achieve such a strong старт in the Candidates Tournament.
Which other top players has he defeated?
Notably, Sindarov has already beaten two of the tournament’s main favorites. In the previous round, he overcame another American grandmaster, Fabiano Caruana, who is currently ranked third in the world.
How has this affected the world rankings?
Thanks to his latest victory, Sindarov gained additional rating points and climbed to fifth place in the world rankings. At the moment, two Uzbek players are ranked among the top five chess players globally.
Who is his next opponent and where is the tournament held?
In round 6 on April 4, Sindarov will face Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi.
The tournament is being held in Paphos, Cyprus, having started on March 29 and running through April 15. It features eight of the world’s top players. Sindarov made history as the first player from Uzbekistan to qualify for this prestigious event.
What is the format and prize structure of the event?
The competition follows a double round-robin format, consisting of 14 games in total. There are still 9 rounds remaining.
The winner will receive €48,000 in prize money, along with €3,500 for every half-point scored. Most importantly, the champion earns the right to challenge reigning world champion Dommaraju Gukesh for the world title.