GCT Super Chess Classic 2026: Sindarov recollects history, wins two in-a-row

By admin May 23, 2026 0 comments

The FIDE World Cup 2025 and Candidates 2026 winner, Javokhir Sindarov scored his second win in-a-row in Round 8 of Grand Chess Tour Super Chess Classic 2026. This win reduced Jorden van Foreest’s chances of winning the tournament.

Keymer and Caruana maintain their lead, Praggnanandhaa plays a marathon draw

Two-thirds of the coleaders, Fabiano Caruana and Vincent Keymer drew their game against each other. They are at 5/8 each. Javokhir Sindarov’s win over Jorden van Foreest allowed Sindarov to move to 4.5/8, joining Jorden at the same score. Wesley So’s forfeit win over Alireza Firouzja also moved him to 4.5/8. It will surely be a close finish. The defending champion, R Praggnanandhaa played a 139-move marathon draw against the former World Blitz champion, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. If any, Praggnanandhaa had extremely difficult chances in the complex queen endgame.

Deac – Giri: 0.5-0.5

The Romania no.1, Bogdan-Daniel Deac (2650) and Anish Giri (NED, 2767) have faced each other four times in Classical rated games. Three of them were in the very same event. All four games ended in draws.Deac always had the white pieces against Giri when they clashed at this event. This time also was no different. However, the result was.

Position after 39…Rb8??

40.Rd6+- Qc8 41.Rb6 Re7 42.e6 would have been winning for White. In the game, first White played 40.e4 Nb3? 41.Rd6 Qc8 42.e6 Rxe6 43.Qg5 f6 44.Bxf6 Rxf6 45.Rxf6 and White won the game in the next few moves. This was also Deac’s final game at this event as his last round opponent is Alireza Firouzja (FRA). Since he withdrew, Deac will get a full point.

Bogdan-Daniel Deac (ROU) scored his first Classical win over Anish Giri (NED) | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Interview with Bogdan-Daniel Deac | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Jorden – Sindarov: 0-1

Jorden van Foreest (NED, 2735) and Javokhir Sindarov (UZB, 2776) played four Classical rated gamse against each other. Jorden won one and the remaining three ended in draws. This time also the result would have been same if Jorden found the correct continuation in the endgame.

Position after 46…Nxb3

It might be difficult to believe that the obvious 47.Rh5?? is losing for White and the counter-intuitive 47.g4 is correct instead. 47.Rh5?? was played and Sindarov correctly found 47…Nd4 48.g4 Kc4 49.gxf5 Kd3 50.Rh8 Ke3 51.Kf1 Nc2 52.Rb8 Rf2+ 53.Kg1 Nd4 and it’s over. Sindarov won his second game in-a-row and moved to 4.5/8.

Javokhir Sindarov (UZB) reminded everyone why he is the World Championship Challenger | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Interview with Javokhir Sindarov | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Fabiano Caruana (USA) – Vincent Keymer (GER): 0.5-0.5| Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

R Praggnanandhaa and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) played a 139-move marathon draw | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Round 8 in progress | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Replay Round 8 live stream

Replay Round 8 live commentary by GMs Yasser Seirawan, Peter Svidler, & Cristian Chirila, IMs Nazi Paikidze & Irene Sukandar, and WGM Anastasiya Karlovich | Video: Saint Louis Chess Club

Replay Round 8 games

Schedule and Format

Super Chess Classic will have one round per day from 14th to 23rd May. Rest day is on Tuesday 19th May. Each round starts at 4 p.m. local time, 6:30 p.m. IST, except the last round which starts at 2 p.m. local time, 4:30 p.m. IST. It will be a 10-player Round Robin event. Time control will be 40 moves in 90 minutes + 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move no.1.