World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen considers Javokhir Sindarov the favourite against reigning champion D Gukesh in the upcoming World Championship. However, Carlsen believes Gukesh has the ability to rediscover his best form and successfully defend his title
Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi believes D Gukesh’s World Championship title defence against Javokhir Sindarov will test his mental strength more than his chess ability. Vidit said Gukesh must overcome his recent inconsistent run and rediscover the form he showed in 2024
Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov clinched the 2026 Candidates tournament with a round to spare, setting up a World Championship clash with India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, while the women’s section remains undecided going into the final round
As many as 15 Indians, including world champion D Gukesh, R Praggnanandha, Vaishali R and Koneru Humpy, have qualified for the 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss and Women's Grand Swiss, to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 3–16
India maintained their winning streak in the women’s section as Vaishali Rameshbabu and Vantika Agarwal secured victories with black pieces, leading the team to a 3-1 win over a strong Georgia side. Georgia, a former Chess Olympiad champion from 2008, was defeated by the Indian team.
