New Delhi: 2026 World Chess Championship challenger Javakhir Sindarov finally got his revenge against De Gokesh at the Grand Chess Tour Super Rapid and Blitz event in Warsaw, defeating the reigning world champion in their first blitz meeting on Friday.The win came just two days after Gokesh had beaten Sundaroff in a fast-paced chess game, a result that was made memorable by the Indian’s unusually emotional response to the board. Known for his calm and studied expression during the Games, Gokesh surprised fans by celebrating with a seated fist pump after defeating the Uzbek teenager in the tournament.The reaction quickly went viral in chess circles, especially since Sundaroff is set to challenge Gokesh for the world championship later this year. The growing rivalry between the two young stars has become one of the most talked about spots in world chess.But on Friday, Sindarov responded in the best possible way, with an emphatic victory. Unlike Gokesh’s emotional celebration earlier in the week, the Uzbek grandmaster barely reacted after winning Round 8 of the Super Blitz section. However, there was no emotional celebration by the Uzbeks after the win as it was just a firm handshake. The calm response added another layer to what is fast becoming an interesting psychological battle between the pair.See:Their rivalry had already intensified after Gokesh’s swift victory. Playing with the black pieces earlier in the game, the Indian fast Karo Kan entered the defense and slowly gained complete control. He neutralized Sanderov’s attacking ideas, gathered material and comfortably converted the advantage in 52 moves.The victory was particularly important for Gokesh as questions about his form surfaced after a shock loss to Poland’s Radoslaw Wojtaszek earlier in the tournament.Now, with one win apiece, the score is once again level between the two rising stars heading into Saturday’s final reverse blitz clash in Warsaw. With pride, momentum and perhaps an early psychological advantage at stake ahead of their World Championship showdown, the final bout promises plenty of drama.
