PANJIM, Nov. 27 -- Team Herald

Newly crowned 19-year-old FIDE World Cup winner Javokhir Sindarov has offered a detailed, measured account of the strategy, preparation and emotional endurance that powered him to one of the biggest breakthroughs of his young career. Sindarov said he arrived at the Goa final with a clear plan: steer the match towards the 5+3 tie-breaks, where he and his team - led by his brother - had prepared several surprise lines. In the longer 10+10 and 15+10 rapid games, he simply aimed 'to play solidly and take chances only if they appeared'. He believed his preparation 'was superior'. He sensed a turning point in the second rapid game. Though he had even offered a draw, he felt his opponent had stopped pushing. With ...