Schacksnack

Who will win the World Championship Match in Geneva, Switzerland, from 24 November to 12 December – Javokhir Sindarov or Dommaraju Gukesh? And, perhaps more importantly, why?

In this video, I, International Master Thomas Engqvist, offer my personal prediction and explain the reasoning behind it. By analysing four recent games – two by each player – I explore their contrasting playing styles, opening preferences, strengths and current form.

My aim is to look beyond the results and examine what these games can tell us about their prospects in the forthcoming World Championship Match.

I analyse two games played by Sindarov in October’s Clutch Chess event and two games played by Gukesh at the Olympiad in Samarkand in September.

The four games feature some fascinating and very different opening systems:

Sindarov’s games:

Sindarov – Praggnanandhaa: The Tartakower–Smyslov Variation (3.f3) of the Caro-Kann Defence. Nakamura – Sindarov: The Sämisch Variation of the King’s Indian Defence.

Gukesh’s games:

Gukesh – Nigmatov: The London System. Donchenko – Gukesh: The intriguing Knight Tango (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nc6!?).

These games offer valuable insights into both the contrasting approaches and the common features of the two players. I discuss what their performances reveal about their respective strengths, preferences and current form, while also exploring the similarities in their playing styles and the qualities they share as top-level competitors.

I also consider what other observers and chess commentators are predicting before giving my own verdict on who has the better chances of winning the World Championship title.

Join me for a closer look at the chess behind one of the most intriguing World Championship encounters!

IM Thomas Engqvist