Gukesh Dommaraju and Javokhir Sindarov (PTI/IANS Photos)

Javokhir Sindarov knows the biggest challenge of his young career awaits later this year when he takes on defending champion D Gukesh for the world crown. But the Uzbek prodigy is refusing to let the much-anticipated showdown dominate his thoughts just yet.Sindarov will face fellow 20-year-old Gukesh in a 14-game World Championship match in Geneva from November 24 to December 12. Yet, rather than beginning his specific preparations for the title clash immediately, the Candidates winner is keeping his attention on the tournaments directly ahead."Right now, I'm focusing on my next events -- the Global Chess League and the Olympiad. After those, I will start preparing for the World Championship match," Sindarov, who will represent Fyers American Gambits in the fourth edition of the GCL, said during a media interaction.

Sindarov wants to face Gukesh at his best

Sindarov's approach also reflects his unwillingness to read too much into Gukesh's recent results. The Indian world champion has endured an inconsistent period since winning the title in 2024, but Sindarov believes that will have little bearing on their eventual battle."Gukesh is very strong. I played with him a few times and I really feel he is a very strong chess player," Sindarov said. "I cannot say a lot of things before the match. I just want to play my good chess and enjoy it."That measured approach comes after a remarkable year for Sindarov. He earned his world title shot by winning the Candidates Tournament with a round to spare, producing a dominant campaign that included four consecutive victories against elite opposition. He has since continued to establish himself among the leading players of the new generation.

Immediate focus on GCL and Olympiad

Before Geneva, Sindarov has the fourth season of the Global Chess League in Bengaluru from September 5 to 13, followed by the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand from September 15 to 27.His preparations for the World Championship will be overseen by coach Roman Vidonyak. Sindarov has indicated that the detailed work for Gukesh will begin only after the Olympiad, allowing him to concentrate fully on the immediate challenges before turning his attention to the world title.The clash in Geneva will be a historic meeting between two 20-year-olds, with Sindarov looking to dethrone the champion and Gukesh seeking to defend the crown he won in 2024.