‘Very happy to beat Praggnanandhaa’: Sindarov says as Uzbek Grandmaster edges closer to Fide Candidates 2026 crown

Uzbekistan Grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov is inches away from winning the Fide Candidates 2026 after defeating India's R Praggnanandhaa in the 10th round, and stretching his lead to a full two points over second-placed Anish Giri. This was Sindarov's second win over Praggnanandhaa in the ongoing Fide Candidates 2026, having beaten the Indian Grandmaster with Black pieces in Round 3.

On Thursday, Sindarov had the White pieces and after Praggnanandhaa made a blunder with 22...Bd7 in the Queen's Gambit Declined Barmen Variation game, the 20-year-old Uzbek chess star sealed the deal in 53 moves.

How Sindarov defeated Praggnanandhaa 

Sindarov has won six matches so far in the ongoing Fide Candidates, the most in a single edition since the tournament adopted the modern format in 2013.

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While most experts feel that Javokhir Sindarov is guaranteed to win the Candidates, the youngster is not ready to take anything lightly and is firmly focussed on the next four games.

"I am very close, but still I have two games with Black. Important games, so I am trying not to think and play good chess always," Javokhir Sindarov said after beating Praggnanandhaa.

Sindarov also revealed how he was extremely disappointed after failing to beat Matthias Bluebaum in Round 9 despite having a winning position, and how his coach helped him calm down and refocus on the larger goal.

"I thought about it a lot and I had a lot of stress yesterday because I didn't win a completely winning position. That's why my coach tells me, if you deserve this title you will get it; if you don't, we will work a lot to become strong. Don't think about the result, just play your chess," Sindarov said in the press conference.

'Very happy to beat Praggnanandhaa'

He added: "Every game is very difficult because there's big pressure. Yesterday was very difficult. Before the game, I would have been very happy had he offered me a draw, but during the game, when I got my position, I was very sad when I played very fast. Still, I don't think a lot; I am just trying to play chess. I worked a lot before the tournament. I feel very good to leave things to my chess because I played a lot of training games and I won a lot of training games."

Sindarov was also asked about the growing rivalry with Praggnanandhaa, who won most of their matches in their junior days.

"The first time I played him was when I was seven years old in the Asian Championship in Iran, and he beat me 2.5-0. My grandfather said that in 20 years he will be one of the best Grandmasters. In Alen, he also beat me 5-0, Greece, same, he beat me. I was very happy to beat him here because last year he also beat me," Sindarov signed off.