World Chess Championship 2026 · Geneva · 24 Nov – 12 Dec
World Chess Championship 2026: Gukesh v Sindarov
0–0
first to 7½
Game 1 is on Tue 24 Nov at 3:00 PM in Geneva (7:30 PM in India, 9:00 AM in New York).
Schedule and results
Every game starts at 3:00 PM Geneva · 7:30 PM India · 9:00 AM New York · 7:00 PM Tashkent (times for 24 November). Results are added after each game.
| Date | Game | White | Result | Opening | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 22 Nov | Opening ceremony | ||||
| Tue 24 Nov | Game 1 | – | – | – | – |
| Wed 25 Nov | Game 2 | – | – | – | – |
| Thu 26 Nov | Game 3 | – | – | – | – |
| Fri 27 Nov | Rest day | ||||
| Sat 28 Nov | Game 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Sun 29 Nov | Game 5 | – | – | – | – |
| Mon 30 Nov | Game 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Tue 1 Dec | Rest day | ||||
| Wed 2 Dec | Game 7 | – | – | – | – |
| Thu 3 Dec | Game 8 | – | – | – | – |
| Fri 4 Dec | Game 9 (if needed) | – | – | – | – |
| Sat 5 Dec | Rest day | ||||
| Sun 6 Dec | Game 10 (if needed) | – | – | – | – |
| Mon 7 Dec | Game 11 (if needed) | – | – | – | – |
| Tue 8 Dec | Game 12 (if needed) | – | – | – | – |
| Wed 9 Dec | Rest day | ||||
| Thu 10 Dec | Game 13 (if needed) | – | – | – | – |
| Fri 11 Dec | Game 14 (if needed) | – | – | – | – |
| Sat 12 Dec | Tiebreaks if needed, closing ceremony | ||||
Score shown as Gukesh–Sindarov. Schedule: Wikipedia, World Chess Championship 2026.
The players
Gukesh D
Won the title in 2024, beating Ding Liren 7½–6½ in Singapore, at 18 the youngest undisputed world champion.
FIDE rating 2710 on the November 2026 list.
Career and rating historyJavokhir Sindarov
Won the 2025 FIDE World Cup, then the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with 10/14, ahead of Giri (8½), Caruana (7½) and Wei Yi (7).
FIDE rating 2782 on the November 2026 list, world No. 4.
Career and rating historyThe challenger is the rating favourite. Sindarov is 72 points higher on FIDE's November list. That's unusual for a title match, though not new for Gukesh: he was also the lower-rated player in 2024, when he beat Ding Liren.
Head to head: in 7 recorded games (2018–2026, all speeds), Gukesh has won 1, Sindarov 4, with 2 drawn. Every game between them
Format and prize fund
- Up to 14 classical games. The first to 7½ points wins, and the remaining games aren't played.
- Time control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 more minutes, with 30 seconds added per move from move 41.
- Draws: No draw offers before Black's 40th move (repetition and stalemate excepted, with the arbiter's approval).
- At 7–7, tiebreaks on 12 December: Four rapid games, 15 minutes + 10 seconds a move; If still level, two rapid games, 10 minutes + 5 seconds; If still level, two blitz games, 3 minutes + 2 seconds; If still level, single blitz games until one is decisive.
- Prize fund: US$2.5 million: US$200,000 per game won, the rest shared equally (US$1.3 million and US$1.2 million if the match ends 7½–6½ after 13 games, 8–6, or in tiebreaks).
Quick answers
When is the 2026 World Chess Championship?
From 24 November to 12 December 2026, at the Fondation Martin Bodmer, Cologny (Geneva), Switzerland. Game 1 is on Tuesday 24 November; games start at 3:00 PM Geneva time, which is 7:30 PM in India and 9:00 AM in New York.
Who is playing in the 2026 World Chess Championship?
The defending champion, Gukesh D of India, against the challenger, Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan. Won the 2025 FIDE World Cup, then the 2026 Candidates Tournament in Cyprus with 10/14, ahead of Giri (8½), Caruana (7½) and Wei Yi (7).
How many games are in the match?
Up to 14 classical games. The first player to 7½ points wins. At 7–7 the match goes to rapid and, if needed, blitz tiebreaks on 12 December.
What is the prize fund?
US$2.5 million: US$200,000 per game won, the rest shared equally (US$1.3 million and US$1.2 million if the match ends 7½–6½ after 13 games, 8–6, or in tiebreaks).
Who is the favourite?
On FIDE's November 2026 list Sindarov is rated 2782 (world No. 4) and Gukesh 2710, a gap of 72 points, so the challenger is the rating favourite. Gukesh also went into his 2024 match as the lower-rated player and won.
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Indian grandmaster profiles: Gukesh D · Praggnanandhaa R · Arjun Erigaisi · Viswanathan Anand · Divya Deshmukh · Koneru Humpy · Vaishali R · Vidit Gujrathi · Harika Dronavalli · Pentala Harikrishna