Chess: Sindarov, 19, becomes youngest World Cup winner as London Classic begins

Javokhir Sindarov, 19, became the youngest ever winner of the Fide knockout World Cup on Wednesday when the Uzbek teenager defeated China’s Wei Yi 2.5-1.5 in the final at Goa. Ukraine’s Ruslan Ponomariov had been a year younger in 2002, but that World Cup had also doubled as the Fide world championship in a period when the global title was disputed. Wei was the favourite, but handicapped himself by poor time management in the decisive game. He declined a draw and could have gained a near-decisive edge by 52 g4! when Black’s king is trapped on the back row, and right at the end could have drawn by 57 Kg2! Qh4 58 Rf8+! when White can force perpetual check. Instead, he blundered into a checkmating attack. The eight candidates and their November world rankings are: Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2), Fabiano Caruana (USA, 3), Anish Giri (Netherlands, 5), Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu (India, 7), Wei Yi (China, 11), Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan, 25), Andrey Esipenko (Russia, 41), Matthias Blübaum (Germany, 43). Caruana will be the favourite, as he already tied a world title match with Magnus Carlsen in London 2017 and narrowly missed a playoff with Gukesh in 2024. However, both Americans are in their 30s and are the two oldest players in the event. Giri is currently in good form, but the Dutchman’s well-known affinity for too many draws will count against him. Praggnanandhaa has had some major successes recently, and his best successes probably still lie ahead. He still needs to play in a tournament with over 50 competitors to confirm his Fide circuit place, so the 19-year-old is currently in action in the London Fide Open. From the viewpoint of global interest in chess, two young Indians is not the ideal mix for a world title match. Sindarov has already proved himself on the verge of joining the elite, and will be supported by the high profile of chess in Uzbekistan. Esipenko will surely have massive help, as Russia eyes the chance to restore Soviet glories. The style of the 23-year-old’s elegant win in his final qualifying game was reminiscent of the great Paul Keres. Blübaum looks the most likely tailender. Who do Guardian readers predict to win the Candidates? Let us know in this week’s comments. Related: Chess outsiders triumph at World Cup in Goa and battle for Candidates spots The London Classic, England’s strongest chess international tournament, opened on Wednesday at the Emirates Stadium – except that it didn’t. Round one clashed with the Arsenal v Bayern Munich in the Champions League, so was played at a private venue. In the event, all five games were drawn, including Gawain Maroroa Jones v Nodirbek Absutarrorov where the 2024 British Champion correctly predicted a Caro-Kann 1 e4 c6 by the top seed and prepared a spectacular variation where at the end it is risky for Black to avoid perpetual check. Abdusattorov, taken by surprise, opted for the early draw. Thursday night’s second round was a setback for English hopes, as Luke McShane blundered a piece against Alireza Firouzja while Greece’s Nikolas Theodorou checkmated Maroroa Jones. There was almost a major upset in the Fide Open when the top seeded Praggnanandhaa missed Stanley Badacsonyi’s knight sacrifice and was losing for several moves, but the North London 16-year-old eventually went down in a long endgame. 4000: 1…Bxf2+! 2 Qxf2 Rxe2 3 Rxe2 (if 3 Nc4+ Rxf2 4 Nxd6 Rxe1+ 5 Kxf2 Re6 Black is rook for knight up) Qd1+ and 4…R or Qxe2 wins. Instead 1…Rxe2? 2 Rxe2 Rxe2?? fails to 3 Nc8+ and 4 Nxd6.