A ceremony was held to honor Uzbek chess grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov following his victory at the FIDE Candidates Tournament, with Shavkat Mirziyoyev in attendance.
Sindarov’s triumph marks a historic milestone for Uzbek chess, as he became the first player from the country to win the prestigious tournament. Competing against some of the world’s strongest grandmasters, he finished with 10 points from 14 games, remaining unbeaten throughout the event and setting records for both points scored and number of wins.
Addressing the ceremony, President Mirziyoyev congratulated Sindarov on what he described as a victory for the entire nation. He noted that such an achievement reflects years of dedication, discipline, and the support of coaches, mentors, and family.
The president highlighted that Sindarov’s performance demonstrated qualities such as resilience, composure, and depth of thought, particularly in matches against top players from India, the United States, China, the Netherlands, Germany, and Russia.
Officials also emphasized that the result reflects broader efforts to develop sports in Uzbekistan, including sustained investment in chess. It was noted that two of the top five players in global chess rankings are now representatives of Uzbekistan, underscoring the growing international standing of the country’s chess school.
Looking ahead, confidence was expressed in Sindarov’s ability to perform strongly in the upcoming match for the world chess title. Expectations were also outlined for the national team at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, scheduled to take place in Samarkand later this year.
During the ceremony, a presidential decree was announced awarding Sindarov the “Mehnat Shuhrati” (Order of Labor Glory) in recognition of his contribution to promoting chess, particularly among young people, and for his record-setting achievement at the Candidates Tournament.
President Mirziyoyev personally presented the award to the grandmaster.
In his remarks, Sindarov expressed gratitude for the support given to youth and sports development in Uzbekistan, and for the recognition of his achievement.
