Two 20-year-olds. One title. The World Chess Championship 2026 will be the youngest match ever played for the crown, and the first between two players born in the 21st century.
Defending champion Gukesh D of India faces Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan, winner of both the 2025 FIDE World Cup and the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The match takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 12, 2026.
On paper, the challenger arrives as the favorite: Sindarov is world No. 4, while Gukesh has dropped to No. 32 since winning the title. But world championship matches have a long history of ignoring the rating list.
This page will be updated throughout the match with results, games and analysis.
World Chess Championship 2026 at a Glance
| Players | Gukesh D (India) vs Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) |
| Dates | November 24 – December 12, 2026 |
| Venue | Fondation Martin Bodmer, Cologny, Geneva (Switzerland) |
| Games | Up to 14 classical games |
| Winning score | 7.5 points |
| Start time | 15:00 CET (14:00 UTC) |
| Prize fund | USD 2.5 million |
| Official name | Salesforce FIDE World Championship Match 2026 |
World Chess Championship 2026 Schedule and Results
Current score: Gukesh 0 – 0 Sindarov
| Game | Date | White | Black | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tue, Nov 24 | – | – | – |
| 2 | Wed, Nov 25 | – | – | – |
| 3 | Thu, Nov 26 | – | – | – |
| Rest day | Fri, Nov 27 | |||
| 4 | Sat, Nov 28 | – | – | – |
| 5 | Sun, Nov 29 | – | – | – |
| 6 | Mon, Nov 30 | – | – | – |
| Rest day | Tue, Dec 1 | |||
| 7 | Wed, Dec 2 | – | – | – |
| 8 | Thu, Dec 3 | – | – | – |
| 9* | Fri, Dec 4 | – | – | – |
| Rest day | Sat, Dec 5 | |||
| 10* | Sun, Dec 6 | – | – | – |
| 11* | Mon, Dec 7 | – | – | – |
| 12* | Tue, Dec 8 | – | – | – |
| Rest day | Wed, Dec 9 | |||
| 13* | Thu, Dec 10 | – | – | – |
| 14* | Fri, Dec 11 | – | – | – |
| Tiebreaks* | Sat, Dec 12 | – | – | – |
Format and Rules
The match is played over a maximum of 14 classical games. The first player to reach 7.5 points becomes World Champion.
- Time control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move 41.
- No early draws: players may not agree to a draw before Black’s 40th move.
What Happens If the Match Is Tied 7–7?
The title is decided on December 12 through a tiebreak sequence:
- Four rapid games (15 minutes + 10 seconds)
- If still tied: two rapid games (10 minutes + 5 seconds)
- If still tied: two blitz games (3 minutes + 2 seconds)
- If still tied: single blitz games (3+2) until one player wins
Gukesh D: The Defending Champion
Gukesh won the 2024 Candidates Tournament in Toronto at 17, then defeated Ding Liren 7.5–6.5 in Singapore in December 2024. At 18, he became the youngest undisputed World Champion in history, breaking Garry Kasparov’s long-standing record.
Since then, his results have been less convincing. His rating has fallen to 2703 (September 2026), well outside the world top 10. The question in Geneva is simple: can the player who peaked perfectly in 2024 do it again when it matters most?
→ Gukesh’s games and statistics: Gukesh D player profile
Javokhir Sindarov: The Challenger
Born on December 8, 2005, Sindarov became a grandmaster at just 12. His rise to the top has been fast:
- 2025 FIDE World Cup (Goa): won the event, beating Wei Yi in the final.
- 2026 Candidates Tournament (Cyprus): 10/14 with six wins, eight draws and no losses. He clinched first place with a round to spare, 1.5 points ahead of Anish Giri.
Sindarov is currently rated 2778, world No. 4. He turns 21 during the match, on the day of Game 12.
→ Sindarov’s games and statistics: Javokhir Sindarov player profile
Gukesh vs Sindarov: Head-to-Head Record
Gukesh and Sindarov have met seven times in the 365Chess database. In classical chess, the challenger has never lost to the champion.
Classical Games: Sindarov 2 Wins, 1 Draw, Gukesh 0 Wins
| Year | Event | White | Black | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 14th Moscow Open A | Gukesh | Sindarov | 0–1 |
| 2022 | 5th Sharjah Masters | Sindarov | Gukesh | 1–0 |
| 2026 | 88th Tata Steel Masters | Sindarov | Gukesh | ½–½ |
Rapid and Blitz Games: Sindarov 2 Wins, Gukesh 1 Win
| Year | Event | White | Black | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | GCT Super Rapid Poland | Sindarov | Gukesh | 0–1 |
| 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland | Sindarov | Gukesh | 1–0 |
| 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland | Gukesh | Sindarov | 0–1 |
They also drew a Freestyle (Chess960) game at the 2025 Freestyle Chess Grand Slam in Weissenhaus. That game isn’t included above because it wasn’t standard chess.
Sindarov vs Gukesh, Tata Steel Masters 2026
Their most recent classical game was a draw at Wijk aan Zee in January 2026.
View the full game on 365Chess →
Sindarov vs Gukesh, Sharjah Masters 2022
Sindarov’s win at Sharjah in 2022 is the most recent decisive classical game between them.
View the full game on 365Chess →
Who Is the Favorite?
Most of the chess world sees Sindarov as the favorite, and the numbers support that view:
- Rating: Sindarov (2778, world No. 4) is 75 points ahead of Gukesh (2703, No. 32) on the September 2026 FIDE list.
- Recent form: Sindarov won the 2025 World Cup and the 2026 Candidates without losing a game. Gukesh has struggled since winning the title.
- Betting markets: in early September, bookmakers priced Sindarov around 4/11 and Gukesh around 2/1. That implies a chance of roughly 70% for the challenger.
- Top players: Magnus Carlsen considers Sindarov the stronger and more complete player right now. Fabiano Caruana also favors the challenger, but only slightly, at around 55–45.
Still, there are solid reasons not to write off the champion:
- Match experience: Gukesh has already played, and won, a world championship match. For Sindarov it will be the first.
- Rating isn’t everything in a match: in 2024 Gukesh reached his peak exactly when it mattered, against an opponent with more experience in title matches.
- Preparation time: a long match rewards preparation and nerves more than recent tournament results. Caruana himself stressed that everything depends on how each player arrives in Geneva.
The challenger starts as a clear favorite, but world championship matches have a long history of surprises.
Prize Fund
The total prize fund is USD 2.5 million. Each player receives $200,000 for every game won, and the remaining amount is split equally between the two players.
If the match ends 7.5–6.5 or is decided in tiebreaks, the split is $1.3 million to the winner and $1.2 million to the runner-up.
How to Follow the Match
All classical games start at 15:00 CET:
| Region | Local time |
|---|---|
| UTC | 14:00 |
| New York (ET) | 09:00 |
| Los Angeles (PT) | 06:00 |
| London | 14:00 |
| India (IST) | 19:30 |
| Uzbekistan | 19:00 |
| Buenos Aires / Montevideo | 11:00 |
Official information about the match is published by FIDE. All games will be added to this page as the match progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the World Chess Championship 2026 start?
The opening ceremony is on November 22, and Game 1 is played on November 24, 2026.
Where is the 2026 World Chess Championship being held?
At the Fondation Martin Bodmer in Cologny, Geneva, Switzerland. It is the first world championship match held in Switzerland since Kramnik–Leko in 2004.
Who is playing in the 2026 World Chess Championship?
Defending champion Gukesh D (India) and challenger Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan).
How many games are in the match?
Up to 14 classical games. The first player to 7.5 points wins.
What happens in case of a tie?
If the score is 7–7 after the classical games, rapid and blitz tiebreaks are played on December 12.
How much money does the World Chess Champion win?
The prize fund is USD 2.5 million. In a close match, the winner receives about $1.3 million.
Who is the favorite?
Javokhir Sindarov is considered the favorite thanks to his higher rating, his recent results and his unbeaten classical record against Gukesh. However, Gukesh is the only one of the two with world championship match experience.
Useful Resources
- Gukesh D – player profile and games
- Javokhir Sindarov – player profile and games
- Top Chess Players
- Opening Explorer
- Analysis Board