Polish GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda shared his opinion on the lineup of Super Rapid & Blitz Poland 2026. Duda says that Magnus Carlsen’s absence does not make the competition easier, and notes the recent performance of Uzbek GM Javokhir Sindarov.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Polish GM

“Magnus Carlsen’s absence is no guarantee of success, because last year, when he was also absent, I only finished seventh.

History shows that, regardless of his presence, the battle for victory always remains open.

However, the current competition promises to be especially tough. Besides World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Warsaw will see a whole host of stars, including Javokhir Sindarov, who is in great form. Sindarov recently won the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus brilliantly. He’s a player who has been winning almost everything lately.

We’re expecting some very interesting games, and I am sure this will be a tournament of the highest level.”

Super Rapid & Blitz Poland is a part of Grand Chess Tour 2026. The tournament will take place from May 4 to May 10 and will feature 10 players from 6 countries, including Javokhir Sindarov, Fabiano Caruana, Gukesh Dommaraju, and Hans Niemann.

Credit: Lennart Ootes