Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov stated that he is unsure if he will get another chance to fight for the world championship title, describing the upcoming match against reigning champion Gukesh Dommaraju as the most difficult tournament event in his career. The 20-year-old Uzbek told The New Indian Express.
Sindarov, the winner of the Candidates Tournament, will meet Gukesh in the World Chess Championship title match in Geneva. The first match is scheduled for November 24.
According to Sindarov, 'this tournament will be the hardest of my life.' He added that playing 14 games against the same opponent over three weeks will be a tough task, and he does not rule out the possibility that he may not get a second chance to fight for the title.
Unlike Gukesh, who has largely withdrawn from tournaments to prepare for the match, Sindarov has chosen a different approach. The Candidates Tournament winner maintains a tight competitive schedule, with the Global Chess League next, followed by the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand with the national team of Uzbekistan. He intends to start a full training camp for the match only after the Olympiad.
Sindarov noted that he understands his opponent's approach. He told The Indian Express: 'Regarding Gukesh, I understand him,' adding that the Indian player participated in many tournaments last year and apparently did not feel psychologically comfortable, which might have led him to decide that he needed to work on certain aspects of his preparation.
Currently, Sindarov holds leading positions in the FIDE Circuit rating for 2026–2027 thanks to a successful competitive year. The two future title contenders may meet even earlier at the upcoming Olympiad in Samarkand. Gukesh will represent India, and Sindarov will represent Uzbekistan, the reigning champion. This could lead to both players being at the board just a few weeks before the World Championship match.
Both players previously stated that they do not have warm personal relations.