OSLO: World Championship challenger Javokhir Sindarov appears to wear his stardom lightly. The Uzbek grandmaster, with a friendly demeanor and genuine smile towards fans, shared a secret during a recent interaction. 'I will be going to the US for the World Cup to support my Uzbekistan team,' he revealed. 'But I will miss the first game as I will be playing in Hong Kong at that time (World Team Rapid & Blitz meet).'
Humility and Respect for Seniors
The 20-year-old, who will attempt to dethrone reigning champion D Gukesh later this year, humbly stated that he is 'not even the best player in Uzbekistan.' This remark underscores his deep respect for his senior and Olympiad gold medal-winning teammate Nodirbek Abdusattorov. Sindarov also recalled how his grandfather taught him chess after he once stayed awake playing a computer game until 4 am while everyone else slept.
Hectic Schedule Ahead
The World No. 4 has a packed schedule starting from July, including the Global Chess League, a Grand Chess Tour rapid and blitz event, the Sinquefield Cup classical event in St. Louis, and the home Olympiad. When asked about his preparation for the match against Gukesh, Sindarov said, 'My team will prepare. I will look at specific things intensely only 2-3 months before the match.'
In the process, he also revealed that he hardly uses chess engines while preparing, emphasizing a more traditional approach to his training.
