Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindorov set a historic record at the 2026 Candidates Tournament being held in Cyprus. Despite four rounds remaining until the end of the tournament, he has won 6 out of 10 games, becoming the chess player with the most victories in the current format.
In the 10th round, Sindorov played with the white pieces against India's Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. The Uzbek chess player effectively capitalized on his opponent's mistake, secured an advantage through precise moves, and formalized his victory after the 53rd move.
Following this result, Sindorov strengthened his lead in the tournament standings with 8 points. He is now 2 points ahead of his closest pursuer — the Dutch player Anish Giri.
Sindorov, who is participating in the Candidates Tournament for the first time, remains undefeated so far. In the rounds played, he has secured victories over leading grandmasters such as Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Wei Yi.
We remind you that the winner of the competition will earn the right to challenge the reigning world champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, for the world crown.
