The marathon of chess: How Javokhir Sindarov broke records in Cyprus
In short: In the high-stakes world of elite chess, the Candidates Tournament is the ultimate proving ground. The 2026 event saw a historic display of dominance as one player secured a path to the World Championship title with a record-breaking pace that left the field scrambling.
Eight top-tier competitors participated in the Candidates Tournament, which occurred from 28 March until 16 April 2026 at Pegeia's Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort, Cyprus. The competition utilized a double round-robin format, requiring each participant to face every opponent twice—once with white pieces and once with black. This structure ensures that victory is determined by deep preparation and consistency over 14 grueling rounds.
Javokhir Sindarov delivered a masterclass in preparation and execution, winning five of the first six rounds. His performance was historic; he secured the tournament victory with one round to spare, establishing a new points record for the Candidates format. By clinching the top spot, Sindarov earned the right to challenge the reigning World Chess Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju, in the 2026 World Chess Championship.
The road to the tournament was marked by significant controversy regarding qualification. The runner-up of the prior championship did not receive a guaranteed place, marking a shift from earlier cycles. This led to a heated debate over Hikaru Nakamura's qualification via the rating system. To meet the 40-game requirement, Nakamura played in local U.S. and Canadian tournaments against lower-rated opposition. While critics like Hans Niemann and Jacob Aagaard questioned this approach, others, including Magnus Carlsen and Susan Polgar, defended his right to compete based on the transparency of his public streams.
The tournament's technical demands were equally rigorous. Players operated under a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes with a 30-second increment. Sindarov’s victory was bolstered by specific tactical triumphs, such as outpreparing Caruana in the Queen's Gambit Accepted and Nakamura in the Marshall Gambit, showcasing how modern chess is as much about 'out-studying' an opponent as it is about board presence.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Candidates Tournament 2026
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