Dutch GM Anish Giri shared his opinion on the FIDE World Junior Championship. Giri says it is unnecessary in 2026, and notes the age of Uzbek GM Javokhir Sindarov and Reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri

Dutch GM

“I was thinking if FIDE will organize the World Junior Championship this year. Because I don’t think it’s necessary…

Sindarov and Gukesh are both 20 years old — it’s a world junior age. This event is obsolete!”

The FIDE World Junior Chess Championship is an annual, premier international tournament for players under the age of 20. The event features “Open” and “Girls” categories and an 11-round Swiss system. Indian GM Pranav Venkatesh and Russian WIM Anna Shukhman won the 2025 edition of the tournament.

Credit: Niki Riga / FIDE