Fabiano Caruana Predicts a Thrilling World Chess Championship: Gukesh vs. Sindarov

Fabiano Caruana Predicts Thrilling World Chess Championship Clash Between Gukesh and Sindarov

Last Updated: April 23, 2026, 10:27 IST

In a highly anticipated showdown, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana has weighed in on the upcoming World Chess Championship match between India’s Dommaraju Gukesh and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov. Caruana, known for his keen insights into the game, believes the match will be closely contested, with a slight edge favoring Sindarov.

Sindarov, who secured his spot in the championship by dominating the FIDE Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, has garnered significant attention and support from chess experts, including world No. 1 Magnus Carlsen. His recent performances have positioned him as a formidable contender, leading many to label him the favorite.

However, Caruana cautions against underestimating Gukesh, despite the young Indian’s recent dip in form. Speaking on the C-Squared podcast, he emphasized Gukesh’s resilience and experience at the highest levels of competition. “It’s very easy to just say Sindarov is going to win, but Gukesh has had tournaments like this — the Olympiad, the Candidates, he’s won tournaments!” Caruana remarked. “Do we really assume that a 19-year-old is just done? Like he had a bad period and he’s just finished?”

Caruana predicts a tightly contested battle, highlighting Gukesh’s preparation and experience as crucial factors. “I’m predicting a close match, actually pretty close to balanced. Gukesh also has experience; he’ll prepare, he’ll think about his approach,” he noted. “If he doesn’t get too unconfident… It’ll be good for him to have some good results at some point, that’ll give him some confidence.”

As the chess world eagerly awaits the championship, Caruana’s prediction leans slightly towards Sindarov, estimating a 55-45 chance in favor of the Uzbek star. “We’ll see Sindarov’s form in the Grand Chess Tour, since he’s playing that. It’s very ironic that he replaced Gukesh in the Grand Chess Tour,” he added, hinting at the competitive dynamics between the two players.

With the championship set to commence, fans and analysts alike are bracing for what promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the brightest talents in chess today.