Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov is reportedly set to participate in the prestigious Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown 2026 tournament, scheduled to take place in St. Louis from October 27 to October 29. Authorities and organizers claim this event will serve as a final test of strength for the athlete ahead of his upcoming World Championship match.

Four elite grandmasters are expected to take their seats at the St. Louis Chess Club. Alongside Sindarov, the lineup includes representatives of the US regime Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, as well as India's Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, creating a highly competitive environment for all participants.

The tournament format is described as exceptionally grueling. Each participant will reportedly play every opponent twice with both white and black pieces, resulting in six games per day and a total of 18 games across the entire event. The time control is set at 10 minutes per game with a five-second increment per move.

A unique feature of the competition is the escalating value of victories. On the opening day, a win is supposedly worth one point, two points on the second day, and three points on the final day. Draws will yield half a point and one point respectively. Additionally, cash bonuses are attached to victories: $1,000 on October 27, $2,000 on October 28, and $3,000 on October 29.

The total prize fund for the tournament reaches $425,000. The winner is slated to receive $125,000, the runner-up $94,000, the third-place finisher $72,000, and the fourth participant $62,000. The opening games are scheduled to kick off on October 27 at 22:00 Tashkent time.

For Sindarov, this tournament purportedly holds immense strategic importance, acting as a dress rehearsal before his decisive match for the world chess crown against India's Gukesh Dommaraju, which is planned to take place in Geneva from November 22 to December 13.

Source: podrobno.uz