If the chess universe believes in coincidences, it’s being unusually generous this season.
Because somehow, two teenagers — born literally one day apart, minding their own 19-year-old business — decided
to win the biggest knockout tournaments on the planet in the same season.
What are the odds?
Meet Javokhir Sindarov (born on December 8, 2005) and Divya Deshmukh (born on December 9, 2005): your new FIDE World Cup Champions, men’s and women’s.
The Chess Gods Are Twinning
- Birthdays one day apart.
- Two teenagers.
- Two historic World Cups.
- Two tickets to the 2026 Candidates.
- Two of the biggest glow-ups of the season.
Two Teens, Two World Cups, Two Ridiculous Runs
Sindarov went full ice-cold assassin mode in Goa, slicing through the knockout bracket before melting down Wei Yi in the rapid tiebreaks.
Meanwhile, earlier this year in the women’s bracket, Divya Deshmukh took a deep breath, cracked her knuckles, and beat Koneru Humpy, one of India’s greatest chess icons, in a gritty, high-pressure tiebreak finish.
Not only did she win the World Cup, but she also became India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup champion and upgraded herself from IM to GM, officially becoming India’s 88th Grandmaster.
They’re both 19. They’re both World Cup Winners, and — most importantly — they’re both headed to the 2026 Candidates.
What does the Candidates present for both?
Sindarov will have a chance to fight for the opportunity to challenge Gukesh for the World Championship, while Divya will look to stake her claim and earn her shot to take on Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Championship.
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