The Underdogs: How Sindarov and Bluebaum Earned Their Candidates Spots
Every Candidates Tournament has favorites. Nakamura, Caruana, Praggnanandhaa - the names everyone expects to see competing for a world title shot. But the 2026 field also has two players who weren't on anyone's shortlist a year ago.
Javokhir Sindarov and Matthias Bluebaum are the lowest-rated players in Cyprus. They're also two of the best stories in chess right now.
Sindarov: Uzbekistan's Prodigy
Javokhir Sindarov is 20 years old, rated 2745, and represents a country that most people couldn't find on a map ten years ago when it came to chess. That changed fast.
The Uzbek Chess Explosion
Uzbekistan won Olympic gold in chess in 2022, shocking the chess world. It wasn't a fluke. The country has been investing in chess development, and a generation of talented young players emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Sindarov is the crown jewel.
The World Cup Run
Sindarov earned his Candidates spot by winning the 2025 World Cup in Goa. Let that sink in. He's the youngest World Cup winner in history. In the final, he beat Wei Yi, who's now also in the Candidates field. That means they'll face each other again in Cyprus, with both knowing exactly how the other plays under pressure.
What to Expect
Sindarov plays aggressive, uncompromising chess. He'd rather lose brilliantly than draw safely. That makes him dangerous in a double round-robin because you can't predict what he'll do. He celebrated his 20th birthday by beating Magnus Carlsen in Freestyle chess, so he clearly isn't intimidated by big names.
The risk? His style can backfire spectacularly. In a 14-round tournament, one bad loss can cascade into several. But if he starts well, the entire field needs to worry.
Bluebaum: Germany's Quiet Qualifier
If Sindarov's story is about raw talent and fearlessness, Matthias Bluebaum's is about something rarer in modern chess: doing it your own way.
No Coach, No Second
Here's what makes Bluebaum remarkable: he qualified for the Candidates without a coach or a second. In elite chess, that's almost unheard of. Top players typically have teams helping them prepare openings, analyze opponents, and handle the psychological load of a multi-week tournament.
Bluebaum showed up to the FIDE Grand Swiss, didn't lose a single game, and qualified. That's it. No drama, no controversy, no sponsorship drama. He just played solid chess and earned his spot.
The German Chess Scene
Germany hasn't had a serious Candidates contender in decades. Bluebaum, rated 2698, is the country's strongest player, but he's never been in the spotlight like this. The German chess federation must be thrilled, and the pressure of representing an entire country's chess hopes is new territory for him.
What to Expect
Bluebaum's style is the opposite of Sindarov's. He's steady, well-prepared, and extremely hard to beat. He won't produce the flashiest games, but he'll grind down opponents who underestimate him. In a tournament where draws are common and every full point is precious, consistency is a legitimate weapon.
He's openly said he feels like an underdog, and he'll likely recruit help for preparation now that the stakes are this high. But even if he finishes in the bottom half, qualifying at all is an achievement that puts German chess back on the map.
The Underdog Factor
What makes both players interesting isn't just their stories. It's the dynamic they create.
The favorites - Nakamura, Caruana, Praggnanandhaa, Giri - have been here before. They know the pressure, the cameras, the preparation arms race. Sindarov and Bluebaum don't, and that cuts both ways. They might crack under the weight of it. Or they might play with the freedom that comes from having nothing to lose.
For our full breakdown of who's favored and why, check our predictions piece. For complete tournament details, see our Candidates guide.
History says underdogs rarely win the Candidates. But history also said Uzbekistan wouldn't win Olympic gold, and a coachless German wouldn't qualify through the Grand Swiss. Sometimes the script gets rewritten.
Watch Sindarov and Bluebaum compete against the world's best on Chess.com.Play on Chess.com