Nodirbek Abdusattorov spoke about his and Javokhir Sindarov’s careers. Abdusattorov says that Sindarov gave him a second wind. Nodirbek notes that Javokhir currently plays the role of a trailblazer for him. Abdusattorov spoke about it in an interview with the Lolazor Podcast and Xushnudbek Xudoyberdiyev.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

Nodirbek Abdusattorov

World's No. 5

“In 2022 I was the first to cross 2700, and at the top level, right up to 2025, there was a gap between my rating and Javokhir’s. But I never had any luck with the Candidates.

In the events that qualify you for the Candidates, I just couldn’t show my best. I stumbled here and there. Sometimes youth let me down, then inexperience.

But now I think Javokhir’s wins, one after another, are giving me a kind of second wind. They did give me a second wind. Javokhir came along, overtook me, and opened the door, showed me it can be done, gave me belief.

So right now, he’s the one playing the trailblazer. For many years I was the trailblazer for him. Now he has overtaken me, reached that level first himself, and he’s pulling me along behind him.”

Javokhir Sindarov is currently the world’s No. 4 and Uzbekistan’s No. 1. Nodirbek Abdusattorov is world’s No. 5 and Uzbekistan’s No. 2. Sindarov overtook Abdusattorov in the Classical rating after the UzChess Cup 2026 in June.

Credit: Uzbekistan Chess Federation