 The 20-year-old Uzbek beat Dutch player Anish Giri to move to 9 and a half points with one round to spare. Sindarov played a 58-move draw with Giri on Tuesday (Apr 14) in Cyprus to win the coveted tournament. He'll now challenge India's Gukesh for the world title in November later this year.

Javokhir Sindarov, 20, wins Candidates with one game to spare to set up world title clash vs Gukesh

The FIDE World Cup 2025 was played as a single-elimination knock-out tournament and witnessed 206 players from 82 countries aiming for glory in a competition and also three spots in the Candidates 2026.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Javokhir Sindarov crowned champion after tense tiebreak against Wei Yi

FIDE World Cup 2025: Wei Yi and Sindarov set for tiebreak, Esipenko secures Candidates spot

Abhinav Bindra, who bagged the 10m Air Rifle gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and gave every Indian sportsperson the belief that they can also aim for world glory, was in Goa to witness some top-quality chess action.

Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra takes a shot at chess at the FIDE World Cup

In the third-place play-off, GM Nodirbek Yakubboev opted for the Sicilian defence and had to dig himself out of a hole in the middle game.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Wei Yi holds Sindarov with black in first game of final; Esipenko beats Yakubboev

While Sindarov and Wei will now play to decide who takes home the Viswanathan Anand Cup, Nodirbek and Esipenko will face-off for the third and final Candidates Spots.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi seal Candidates spot after winning respective semifinals

The second game between Nordirbek and Sindarov went the same way as the first as both the players were happy to play solid and safe chess till the mandatory 30 move threshold before agreeing for a draw.

FIDE World Cup 2025: Both semifinals advance to tiebreak after another day of draws

While Nodirbek Yakubboev signed the truce pact with compatriot GM Javokhir Sindarov immediately after the mandatory 30 moves, Wei Yi and GM Andrey Esipenko had their chances but could not convert and ended up splitting the point after 33 moves.

FIDE World Cup 2025: First game of Wei Yi-Esipenko, Nodirbek-Sindarov semifinals end in a draw

Ahead of the FIDE World Cup semifinal clash, Javokhir Sindarov exclusively spoke to WION’s Aditya Pimpale and reflected on his journey. He also spoke on The Candidates as he now stands a win away from reaching the prestigious tournament set to be held in 2026.

Exclusive: Javokhir Sindarov focused on FIDE World Cup semis, Candidates qualification not in mind

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Javokhir Sindarov, 20, wins Candidates with one game to spare to set up world title clash vs Gukesh

FIDE World Cup 2025: Javokhir Sindarov crowned champion after tense tiebreak

FIDE World Cup: Wei Yi vs Sindarov tiebreak, Esipenko qualifies for Candidates

Abhinav Bindra takes a shot at chess at the FIDE World Cup 2025

FIDE World Cup 2025: Wei Yi holds Sindarov with black in first game of final

FIDE WC 25: Sindarov, Wei Yi seal Candidates spot after winning respective semis

FIDE WC 2025: Both semifinals advance to tiebreak after another day of draws

FIDE WC: First game of Wei Yi-Esipenko, Nodirbek-Sindarov semis ends in draw

Exclusive: Sindarov focused on WC semis, Candidates qualification not in mind