Uzbek grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov has entered the top 10 of the global live classical chess rankings, according to updated data from the 2700chess.com rating list.
Sindarov’s rise into the elite group came after American grandmaster Wesley So lost rating points during the American Cup, dropping out of the world’s top ten. As a result, Sindarov moved up the rankings and joined the leading group of players.
The development marks a historic moment for Uzbek chess, as two Uzbek grandmasters — Nodirbek Abdusattorov and Javokhir Sindarov — are now simultaneously ranked among the world’s top ten in classical chess.
Abdusattorov recently gained nine additional rating points following his victory at the Prague Chess Festival, bringing his current rating to 2780 points. Meanwhile, German grandmaster Vincent Keymer dropped to fifth place after losing 13.9 rating points.
Earlier this year, Abdusattorov competed in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament held in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands, in February 2026. He also secured third place at the Freestyle Chess World Championship in Weissenhaus, Germany.
Sindarov, currently Uzbekistan’s second-ranked grandmaster, has shown steady progress in recent months.
At the end of January, he was ranked 20th in the world, but his strong performance in the Tata Steel Chess Challengers group, where he finished second, helped him climb eight places to 12th before entering the top 10 in the latest March live rankings.
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Uzbek chess player Afruza Khamdamova has also improved her standing. Following her victory at the Aeroflot Open, she moved up five places in the live rankings to 33rd place, with 2416 rating points.
