World Chess Championship 2026: Gukesh vs Sindarov in Geneva
For the first time since Brissago 2004, the world title is decided in Switzerland. Every game, analysis and prediction.
Gukesh D
IND · Rating 2703
Javokhir Sindarov
UZB · Rating 2778
What is played in Geneva.
- Dates
- 22 November to 12 December 2026
- Venue
- Fondation Martin Bodmer, Cologny
- Format
- 14 classical games, tiebreak at 7:7
- Start time
- 15:00 (Zurich time)
- Time control
- 120 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes, plus a 30-second increment from move 41
- Opening ceremony
- Sun 22 November
For the first time since Brissago 2004, the world title is decided in Switzerland.
All 14 games.
All times are Zurich time. Colours are decided by the drawing of lots at the opening ceremony.
schedule Start: 15:00 (Zurich time)
- Sun 22. Nov celebration Opening ceremony and media day
- Mon 23. Nov —
- Tue 24. Nov 1 Game 1
- Wed 25. Nov 2 Game 2
- Thu 26. Nov 3 Game 3
- Fri 27. Nov bedtime Rest day
- Sat 28. Nov 4 Game 4
- Sun 29. Nov 5 Game 5
- Mon 30. Nov 6 Game 6
- Tue 1. Dec bedtime Rest day
- Wed 2. Dec 7 Game 7
- Thu 3. Dec 8 Game 8
- Fri 4. Dec 9 Game 9
- Sat 5. Dec bedtime Rest day
- Sun 6. Dec 10 Game 10
- Mon 7. Dec 11 Game 11
- Tue 8. Dec 12 Game 12
- Wed 9. Dec bedtime Rest day
- Thu 10. Dec 13 Game 13
- Fri 11. Dec 14 Game 14
- Sat 12. Dec bolt Tiebreak
Only needed if the match stands 7:7 after 14 games.
Champion against challenger.
Both are 20 years old when the first move is played. It is the youngest world championship match in history.
GM Gukesh D
India (IND) · Rating 2703
Gukesh D won the title in Singapore in 2024 against Ding Liren and is the youngest World Champion in history. In Geneva he defends it for the first time.
Photo: Frans Peeters, CC BY-SA 2.0
GM Javokhir Sindarov
Uzbekistan (UZB) · Rating 2778
Javokhir Sindarov won the 2026 Candidates Tournament and is the first challenger from Uzbekistan. He enters the match with the higher rating.
Photo: MiroJP, CC BY-SA 4.0
The games before the match.
Every relevant classical game by the two finalists, analysed by the AI Coach and reviewed by GM Sebastian Bogner.
- Gukesh D vs Gleb Dudin 1-0 Loss Read the analysis
- Javokhir Sindarov vs Vasyl Ivanchuk 1/2-1/2 Draw Read the analysis
- Gukesh D vs Ortik Nigmatov 1-0 Win Read the analysis
- Javokhir Sindarov vs Robert Hovhannisyan 1-0 Win Read the analysis
- Gukesh D vs Alexander Donchenko 0-1 Win Read the analysis
Good to know.
The opening ceremony and media day are on 22 November 2026. The first classical game is played on 24 November, the fourteenth on 11 December. A tiebreak, if needed, follows on 12 December. Rest days are 27 November and 1, 5 and 9 December.
At the Fondation Martin Bodmer in Cologny near Geneva. It is the first world championship match in Switzerland since Brissago 2004.
The Fondation Martin Bodmer is a museum with limited space. Tickets and spectator access are announced by the organiser; as soon as official information is available, it will be here.
The games are broadcast on the official FIDE channels and on the major chess platforms. On this site every game has a live board during play and the analysis in the evening.
A maximum of 14 classical games. A win scores one point, a draw half a point. The first player to reach 7.5 points becomes World Champion. The time control is 120 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes, with a 30-second increment from move 41.
A tiebreak is played on 12 December: first four rapid games at 15 minutes plus a 10-second increment, then two games at 10 minutes plus 5 seconds, then two blitz games at 3 minutes plus 2 seconds. If the match is still level, single blitz games decide it.
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