Sindarov Wins Clutch Chess Before Championship Match

Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov won the 2026 Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown in St. Louis, finishing with 20.5 points after a strong final day that erased his deficit to India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa. Praggnanandhaa placed second with 19 points, while Americans Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura finished third and fourth. Sindarov’s winnings totaled $168,000, including bonuses and the champion’s jackpot. The tournament was his last competitive appearance before he challenges reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju in a match scheduled to begin November 24 in Geneva.