Magnus Carlsen Backs Javokhir Sindarov For World Title, Offers Advice To D Gukesh | Chess News

Last Updated:September 10, 2026, 21:10 IST

Ahead of the World Chess Championship in Geneva, Magnus Carlsen said that D Gukesh shouldn’t view the event as a title defence.

Javokhir Sindarov to face D Gukesh in 2026 FIDE World Chess Championship (PTI and X/FIDE)

Legendary Norwegian chess player Magnus Carlsen has said that D Gukesh’s form for the past two years means that he doesn’t have to defend anything, but a win in the World Championship title challenge would mean he gains a lot, as he backed Javokhir Sindarov to become the next world champion.

Gukesh will face Uzbekistan’s challenger Sindarov in the upcoming World Chess Championship, scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 12.

While Gukesh hasn’t been in the best of form since his World Championship win, Sindarov has been on a roll, having registered a record score at the Candidates to set up a clash with the former.

“I think the word defend is really not a good place to begin, because in terms of how Gukesh has played for the last couple of years, he shouldn’t be in a position where he has to defend anything,” Carlsen said while speaking to the media at the Global Chess League in Bengaluru.

“He should be in a position where he has everything to gain. He has shown previously in 2024 that when things click, he has the potential to play at an extremely high level,” Carlsen added.

The star player said that Gukesh must take the initiative from the outset to keep Sindarov under pressure.

“If Sindarov is ahead early on, it is probably very, very bad news for Gukesh. If Gukesh is ahead early on, he automatically becomes a significant favourite. That is how these matches work,” Carlsen said.

Speaking about his own career, the star player added that he now prefers rapid chess over the classical format.

“I think in terms of their chess styles, the current generation, I don’t know if they are making conscious choices about it, but they are doing very well, for sure. In that sense, chess is in very good hands with the kids,” Carlsen said.

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When and where is the upcoming World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh and Javokhir Sindarov?

The World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh and Javokhir Sindarov is scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 24 to December 12.

Why does Magnus Carlsen believe D Gukesh should not feel pressured to defend his title?

Magnus Carlsen stated that D Gukesh’s performance over the last couple of years means he should not be in a position where he has to defend anything. Instead, Carlsen believes Gukesh should approach the match as having everything to gain, noting that when things click, Gukesh has the potential to play at an extremely high level.

What advice did Magnus Carlsen give D Gukesh regarding the start of his match against Javokhir Sindarov?

Magnus Carlsen advised that D Gukesh must take the initiative from the very beginning to keep Javokhir Sindarov under pressure. Carlsen noted that if Sindarov gets ahead early on, it would be very bad news for Gukesh, but if Gukesh takes an early lead, he automatically becomes a significant favourite.

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