The Guardian newspaper discussed Alireza Firouzja’s prospects and performance. The Guardian states that Javokhir Sindarov surpasses Firouzja as the best player of his generation, and reflects on Firouzja’s chances of becoming World Champion.

The Guardian

The Guardian

Newspaper

“Alireza Firouzja is shaping up to be one of the nearly men of grandmaster chess.

Firouzja’s career has been limited by his below-par performances in the Candidates. In 2022, he spoiled his chances by playing Blitz into the small hours. In 2024, he did worse still, finishing seventh out of eight.

He made a major effort to qualify again in 2025, hiring the late Daniel Naroditsky as his coach for the Grand Swiss in Samarkand, but finished third when only two qualified. At the victory ceremony, the bronze medal podium was conspicuously uninhabited.

There is now a fresh incentive. The new Norway-organized Total World Championship will include fast 45-minutes Classical, Rapid, and Blitz sections. A pilot event will be staged in October 2026, followed by a full tour in 2027. This format should significantly improve Firouzja’s chances of a global crown.

However, Javokhir Sindarov, who won the 2026 Candidates, has again reaffirmed that he is now ahead of Firouzja as the outstanding player of his generation by winning the Rapid and Blitz tournaments at the Naroditsky Memorial, held in Charlotte over the Independence Day weekend.”

Alireza Firouzja has made two attempts to qualify for the World Chess Championship Match. He qualified for the FIDE Candidates Tournament in 2022 and 2024, finishing 6th and 7th respectively. Javokhir Sindarov played in the Candidates for the first time in 2026, won the tournament, and will play in the World Championship Match at the end of the year. Sindarov and Firouzja are current World’s No. 4 and No. 12 respectively.

Credit: Lennart Ootes