World Chess Championship 2026: Gukesh Dommaraju vs Javokhir Sindarov in Geneva

Indian world champion Gukesh Dommaraju will defend his title against Uzbek challenger Javokhir Sindarov in the 2026 World Chess Championship. The match is scheduled to run from 25 November to 15 December 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland, under the auspices of the World Chess Federation (FIDE). Both players will be 20 years old at the start of the contest, making it the youngest title clash in the history of the world championship.

Gukesh, who became the youngest world champion in December 2024, seeks to prove his 2024 victory was not a one‑off. Sindarov earned his challenger spot by winning the 2026 Candidates Tournament without losing a game. The championship will consist of 14 classical games, with the first player to reach 7.5 points winning the title; if tied, a rapid‑blitz tie‑break will decide the champion.