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Kasparov backs Sindarov as slight favorite over Gukesh for the World Chess Championship, says Sindarov win could tempt Magnus Carlsen back into the title race
Javokhir Sindarov to face D Gukesh in 2026 FIDE World Chess Championship
Garry Kasparov believes Javokhir Sindarov currently has the edge over D Gukesh ahead of their highly anticipated World Chess Championship clash later this year. The former world champion also suggested that a Sindarov victory could potentially lure Magnus Carlsen back into the title picture.
Sindarov earned his shot at the crown after a dominant run at the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, where he remained unbeaten and pulled clear of the field early on. His performances left a strong
Kasparov Full Of Praise
“The way he won the Candidates, it was very impressive. I must say, it’s hard to impress me. But the way Sindarov played — his timing, the quality of his moves, his ability to withstand pressure and increase the pressure on his opponents — was exceptional,” Kasparov was quoted as saying.
“Compared to Gukeshif you look at the games, Sindarov looks like the clear favourite. But this match is a special format. Gukesh is very mentally stable, able to defend any position and find resources even in the worst situations. Gukesh has match experience, but for Sindarov, this will be his first serious match. Yes, it’s relatively short — 14 games, we’ve played longer matches before — but it will still be very interesting.”
Kasparov also pointed to the broader implications of the result, particularly involving Carlsen, who stepped away from the world title cycle in 2022.
“The current World Champion is 19. The challenger is only 20. But I still want to emphasise that the strongest chess player (Carlsen) is 35. With all due respect. I would love to see Sindarov playing Magnus, because Carlsen is still around. Maybe if Sindarov beats Gukesh, then there will be a chance to bring Magnus back and see how things go.”
Javokhir Sindarov Or D Gukesh?
Comparing the two young stars, Kasparov highlighted Sindarov’s rapid rise while acknowledging Gukesh’s strengths.
“Sindarov, you know, is eager to play and I believe that he will benefit greatly from playing against more strong opponents (at the Grand Chess Tour) because he’s just entered the elite. It’s quite unique because even Gukesh already played in some of the top tournaments. I think Sindarov is more like someone having this meteoric rise.”
“A match is a match and Gukesh is very resilient. He has a phenomenal ability to defend almost any position and just to look for the last remaining resources in virtually any position. Gukesh has some experience. He played one match while Sindarov will be a rookie for the relatively long match.”
April 17, 2026, 09:16 IST
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