Javokhir Sindarov spoke about how Uzbekistan became a world chess power. Sindarov says that young chess players were inspired by Rustam Kasimdzhanov’s victory at the 2004 FIDE World Chess Championship. Sindarov notes that he previously had thoughts about changing federation. Javokhir spoke about it in an interview with Alisher Sadullayev.

Javokhir Sindarov

Javokhir Sindarov

World's No. 4

“The current generation is mostly young people who came after Rustam Kasimdzhanov. Many of us became interested in chess right after Rustam’s success.

But still, I must emphasize one thing. We were getting stronger and achieving certain results, but at the same time it was very hard for us. The reason is that back then, chess was not given such great attention in our country. We could not travel to competitions often. Even tickets required money.

Probably many know that the thoughts about possibly changing the chess federation appeared to me exactly then. But fortunately, today our president gives chess a great deal of attention.

Recently I saw on social media how the entire world chess elite discusses the attention that is now given to chess in Uzbekistan. I saw that they even envy us. And I am proud that I have such a president, and proud that I am a son of Uzbekistan.”

Team Uzbekistan won the Chess Olympiad 2026 at the end of September on home soil in Samarkand. They won the tournament with 20 points and a 2-point lead. Uzbekistan won the Chess Olympiad for the second time in history.

Credit: Michal Walusza / FIDE