Javokhir Sindarov and Nodirbek Abdusattorov prove the beauty of chess is the thought behind it
Osman Samiuddin
September 1, 2015
ABU DHABI // Javokhir Sindarov is shy. He did not want to speak at all, making the kind of face children do when you tell them they have to eat broccoli.
That is not a surprise.
Sindarov is age nine and he would rather eat broccoli than speak to a journalist about what he does so well. Sindarov, from Uzbekistan, was one of the attractions at the 22nd Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival.
He was overshadowed a little by another Uzbek prodigy at the festival, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, 10, who could well become the youngest grandmaster in the history of the game (and has already defeated a couple of grandmasters).
Sindarov is no less a bona-fide prodigy himself. One blog, Chess by the Numbers, has ranked him sixth in an all-time list of the highest ratings of players under 10.
That was earlier this month, soon after he had won the prestigious Asian Youth Chess Championships in the same age group.
About the only thing Sindarov would say – and he did not say it but waved his hand to show it – was that he has been playing chess for five years. Last year, he too beat some grandmasters.
His grandfather accompanied him in Abu Dhabi, stern and proud and always watching over Sindarov’s games.
Chess is increasingly known for its prodigies. It is a huge part of its charm and one of the ways it registers on the sporting mainstream: when a boy of 12 becomes a grandmaster, for instance, or a 14 year old wins the US Open. (Both true stories).
Full article here.