India, Aug. 26 -- Javokhir Sindarov is taking a less-travelled route to the World Championship match. While the months before a title match can often mean retreating into a preparation bunker, the 20-year-old Uzbek has kept himself in the thick of tournament action as he builds towards his showdown against Gukesh in November- the youngest World Championship match in history.

He has played five tournaments since May, with the Sinquefield Cup being the only classical event among them. The Global Chess League, which starts on September 5 in Bengaluru, is next. It will be followed by the Olympiad. He says the busy schedule is not draining him; if anything, it is helping a player who has only recently broken into the top tier get more comfort...