Javokhir Sindarov nominated for two FIDE awards

Uzbekistan's chess prodigy Javokhir Sindarov has been recognized on the international stage, earning nominations for two categories in the inaugural FIDE Excellence Awards: Best Chess Player and Breakthrough of the Year. The winners will be announced in September during a ceremony in Samarkand, coinciding with the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad.

Sindarov's impressive trajectory is supported by the National Bank of Uzbekistan, which aids his international tournament participation, competition preparation, and work with his coaching team. The FIDE Excellence Awards, introduced in 2026, celebrate achievements over a two-year cycle, with this inaugural edition covering September 2024 through August 2026.

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His classical FIDE rating rose from 2677 in September 2024 to 2777 in July 2026. During that period, he gained 100 rating points, climbed to fourth in the world rankings among active players and became the highest-rated player in both Uzbekistan and Asia.

Over the past two years, Sindarov has solidified his position among the world's chess elite. His classical FIDE rating climbed from 2677 in September 2024 to 2777 in July 2026. This gain of 100 rating points propelled him to fourth in the world rankings among active players and established him as the highest-rated player in both Uzbekistan and Asia.

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His greatest achievement in 2025 came when he won the FIDE World Cup in Goa. He defeated Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi in the final on tiebreaks, becoming the tournament’s youngest-ever champion at the age of 19.

His most notable achievement in 2025 was winning the FIDE World Cup in Goa, becoming the youngest champion at 19 by defeating Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi in the final tiebreaks. This victory also secured him a spot in the Candidates Tournament. In recognition, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded him the title of Honored Athlete of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Further cementing his status, Sindarov won the Candidates Tournament in April 2026 with a round to spare, earning the right to challenge Gukesh Dommaraju for the World Chess Championship. He was subsequently honored with the Mehnat Shuhrati (Labor Glory) Order by the president. Sindarov faces strong competition in the Best Chess Player category, including fellow Uzbek Nodirbek Abdusattorov and world stars like Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana. He is also nominated for Breakthrough of the Year.

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In April 2026, Sindarov won the Candidates Tournament with a round remaining, earning the right to challenge Gukesh Dommaraju for the World Chess Championship title.