CHESS: Leaked files linked to Candidates leader Sindarov spark debate

PARIS — Javokhir Sindarov downplayed concerns over a brief exposure of his chess opening preparation online, but the incident — along with a separate mishap in Hikaru Nakamura’s team — has highlighted the crucial role of "seconds" in the Candidates Tournament.

The 20-year-old Uzbek, who leads the Cyprus-based tournament by two points and is vying for a chance to challenge world champion Dommaraju Gukesh, drew in 24 moves against Andrey Esipenko in round eight.

Questions soon arose after files linked to Sindarov were briefly visible on an online account before being swiftly made private.

Sindarov remained unbothered.

"It was not a big deal because I don't remember the last time I opened those studies," he said, adding that the lines were outdated and no longer part of his active preparation.

In elite chess, preparation is tightly guarded. The identity of players’ seconds — strong players and analysts who help with preparation — is often concealed. A leak can compromise months of work.

Sindarov’s calm response underscores the growing importance of seconds, who build complex opening files designed to steer games into favorable positions.

The value of careful preparation was evident earlier in the tournament when Nakamura publicly expressed frustration at his team for missing a critical idea in his game against Sindarov — a small oversight with costly consequences.

British grandmaster and commentator David Howell noted Sindarov’s composure.

"I would be freaking out and a bit tilted if this had happened to me," Howell said. "He played with a nice calm smile on his face — and that’s a skill in itself."

Preparation leaks are rare but not unprecedented. During the 2018 World Championship match between Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, a video briefly posted online revealed some of Caruana’s opening ideas before being removed. A similar case occurred in 2023, when anonymous accounts linked to Ding Liren and grandmaster Richard Rapport appeared to reveal lines Ding later used against Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Sindarov said he first became aware of such issues during last year’s World Cup, which he won to qualify for the Candidates.

"I was getting messages from fans telling me that my studies on Lichess were not private," he recalled.

With a score of 6.5/8, Sindarov is in a strong position to win the Candidates and challenge Gukesh later this year for the world title. -Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Hugh Lawson/Reuters