Sindarov on Nakamura, Gukesh, and the Fight for the World Chess Crown

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — On 27–28 July, Team Uzbekistan will face Team USA in a chess match at the Faena Hotel Miami Beach as part of the WR Chess tournament — the American debut of a team format in which national squads compete against each other in rapid and blitz using the Scheveningen system, where every player from one team faces every player from the other. Uzbekistan will be represented by Javokhir Sindarov, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Nodirbek Yakubboev, and Shamsiddin Vokhidov, while the United States lineup features Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, and Levon Aronian.

Organizers point to a new meeting between Sindarov and Nakamura as the tournament's central storyline: earlier this year, the Uzbek grandmaster defeated Nakamura at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus and secured his spot as challenger for the World Chess Championship against Gukesh Dommaraju.

Ahead of the tournament's start in Miami, Javokhir Sindarov answered questions from UzDaily.uz with the assistance of WR Chess organizers, discussing the upcoming match, preparation for the Scheveningen format, his recent win at the inaugural Naroditsky Memorial, and how his approach is evolving as he prepares for the World Championship match.

— This will be your first meeting with Hikaru Nakamura since you beat him at the Candidates in Cyprus. What's it like walking into a rematch with that history, in a format where you could face him multiple times over two days?

— It was a great experience to play Hikaru at the Candidates, but this is a completely new event and a different format. Hikaru is one of the strongest and most experienced players in the world, so every game against him is a serious challenge. I'm not thinking too much about our previous match. My focus is on playing good chess, making the right decisions at the board, and being ready for every game, no matter who the opponent is. If we meet multiple times over the next two days, I'll just try to stay consistent and fight in every game.

— The Scheveningen format means you could play every member of Team USA across two days of rapid and blitz. How does that change your preparation compared to a traditional Swiss or knockout event?

— I think the preparation is a bit different because you know you'll face a variety of opponents with different styles. In a Swiss tournament, you're usually preparing round by round, but here you need to be more flexible and ready to switch quickly from one game to the next. Since it's rapid and blitz, practical decisions and maintaining your energy are just as important as opening preparation. My goal is to stay focused, adapt to each opponent, and play my best chess throughout the event.

— What's your honest expectation for Miami — do you see this as a tune-up before the World Championship, or a competition you're going in to win outright for Uzbekistan?

— My expectation is to play my best chess and help Team Uzbekistan achieve the best possible result. Of course, every strong tournament is valuable experience, especially when you're facing world-class players in rapid and blitz. In that sense, every event helps you improve and prepare for future challenges. But right now, my full focus is on this competition. Our main goal is to do our best as a team, win this match, and deliver a strong result.

— You just swept both Rapid and Blitz at the inaugural Naroditsky Memorial, beating a field that included Nakamura and Caruana. What did that week tell you about where your game is heading into Miami?

— It was a very special tournament for me, and I'm happy with the way I played. Winning both the rapid and blitz events against such a strong field definitely gave me confidence. At the same time, I know that every tournament is a new challenge, and past results don't guarantee anything. I'm taking the confidence from that performance, but I'm staying focused on the present and looking forward to playing good chess here in Miami.

— Your 2026 Candidates score — 10/14, unbeaten — is the best in the tournament's current format. Looking back, was there a single game or moment in Cyprus where you felt the title was truly within reach?

— I think there wasn't one specific moment when I felt the title was already within reach. The Candidates is such a long and demanding tournament that you really have to stay focused on one game at a time. Of course, after some important wins my confidence grew, but I never allowed myself to think too far ahead. Even in the last rounds, my approach was simply to play the best moves I could and let the final standings take care of themselves.

— From the 2025 World Cup to the Candidates to now — what's changed in how you handle pressure over the last twelve months?

— I think experience has made the biggest difference. Playing in the biggest tournaments and facing the world's strongest players teaches you how to stay calm and focused under pressure. Of course, the pressure is always there, and I don't think it ever completely disappears. But over time, you learn to accept it, manage it better, and use it as motivation rather than letting it affect your decisions at the board.

— You're now the highest-rated Uzbek player ahead of Abdusattorov, and world #4. Does the ranking change anything for you mentally, or is a World Championship match its own category entirely?

— I don't think my mindset has changed very much. Ratings and rankings are nice, but they don't win games by themselves. Every tournament starts from zero, and you have to prove yourself again every time you sit at the board. Of course, preparing for a World Championship match is something special — it's probably the biggest challenge in chess. But my approach remains the same: work hard every day, keep improving, and focus on playing the best chess I can.

— Uzbekistan now has two players — you and Abdusattorov — inside the world's elite. What's it like pushing each other, and what do you think is driving this generation of Uzbek chess?

— It's great for Uzbek chess. Having strong players around you creates healthy competition and motivates everyone to improve. Nodirbek and I have known each other for many years, and we've both benefited from growing up in the same strong chess environment. I think the success of our generation comes from a combination of talented young players, dedicated coaches, strong support from the federation, and the inspiration we received from the achievements of previous generations. Hopefully, we're also inspiring the next generation to dream even bigger.

— You'll face Gukesh Dommaraju in the first World Championship match between two 20-year-olds in history. How are you and your team approaching the preparation differently for a match versus a Swiss or knockout event?

— I think it's very different. In a Swiss or knockout tournament, you're preparing for many possible opponents, and you have to adapt from round to round. In a World Championship match, all of your preparation is focused on one player. You have much more time to study his style, opening choices, strengths, and weaknesses in depth. At the same time, your opponent is doing exactly the same, so it becomes not only a test of chess strength but also of preparation, psychology, and consistency over many games. That's what makes the World Championship so special.

— Gukesh has had a mixed run in recent events. Some observers see that as an opening — you've said you don't see a clear weakness in his game. What do you think actually decides a match like this: preparation, nerves, or something else?

I think a World Championship match is decided by many small details. Preparation is obviously very important, but you also need to be able to handle the pressure, stay focused for a long period, and make good decisions in critical moments. I don't think recent results always show the full picture because every tournament is different. Gukesh is a very strong player, and he has proven that many times. I respect his abilities, so my focus is not on looking for weaknesses, but on preparing myself as well as possible and being ready for the challenges ahead.