Javokhir Sindarov enters the 2026 FIDE World Chess Championship as the clear favorite following his dominant victory in the FIDE Candidates Tournament, where he clinched the title with a round to spare and finished at 10/14. This strong classical form, combined with his rapid rise and recent results against top competition, has shaped trader consensus around a 69.5% implied probability for the Uzbek grandmaster. Reigning champion Gukesh Dommaraju, at 30.5%, faces the matchup after a challenging 2026 campaign marked by poor results across multiple events, including last-place finishes and multiple losses in classical play. The best-of-14 encounter in Geneva from late November through mid-December pits Sindarov’s current momentum against Gukesh’s title experience in a closely watched title defense.