Praggnanandhaa Ends Sindarov's Undefeated Streak with Classical Victory

Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa defeated Uzbek prodigy Javokhir Sindarov in the second round of the Super Chess Classic 2026 tournament in Romania. This victory marks a significant milestone as it is Sindarov's first loss in classical chess in eight months, ending an impressive unbeaten run that included winning the Candidates tournament without a defeat. Playing with the white pieces, Sindarov resigned after 42 moves, having trailed on the clock and suffered material disadvantages from the early stages of the game. Commentators noted an uncharacteristic calculation error by Sindarov on move 36 as the turning point. The match highlights a continuing rivalry between the two young grandmasters, who previously clashed in the Candidates tournament in Cyprus. Since his Candidates victory, Sindarov has shown signs of vulnerability, including recent rapid and blitz losses to World Champion D Gukesh. Praggnanandhaa expressed satisfaction with his performance, acknowledging the difficulty of beating Sindarov given his recent terrifying form. The result underscores a shift in momentum between these top-tier competitors as they navigate the elite chess circuit.