Javokhir Sindarov Defeats Praggnanandhu in Candidates

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov secured a victory over Indian chess player Rameshbabu Praggnanandhu in the third round of the 2026 Candidates Tournament held in Cyprus. The win elevated Sindarov’s rating to 2753.5, placing him 8th in the world rankings — the highest of his career.

In the fourth round, Sindarov is set to face Fabiano Caruana in a direct match for the tournament lead. The Candidates Tournament, which began on March 29 and will run until April 15, brings together the world’s eight strongest grandmasters, including Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, and debutant Javokhir Sindarov.

The competition is conducted in a double round-robin format across 14 rounds, with a total prize fund of €500,000 and, most importantly, the right to challenge reigning World Champion Dommaraju Gukesh. The tournament regulations stipulate classical time controls and prohibit draws before the 40th move. The winner of each round receives €48,000, while each participant earns an additional €3,500 for every half-point scored.