New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- It's India vs Uzbekistan - the new rivalry in chess. Two years after becoming the youngest ever chess world champion, beating Ding Liren in Singapore, India's D Gukesh will up to defend his crown against Uzbekistan GM Javokhir Sindarov in Geneva, Switzerland, in November.

The clash has its own significance as for the first time in World Chess Championship history, two 20-year-olds are fighting for the biggest prize in the sport. While Gukesh is coming after a team silver medal at the Chess Olympiad 2026, Sindarov has won the Clutch Chess Champions Showdown in Saint Louis, overturning a 2.5-point deficit on the final day.

It was Sindarov's final showdown before facing Gukesh in Geneva. Sindarov earned the opportunity...