India, Nov. 27 -- The glint in Javokhir Sindarov's eyes, more child-like than champion-like, beamed brighter than the glitter on the trophy as he took a first glance at it, moments after the Chess World Cup final.

"When I saw it for the first time, I thought, 'Oh, it's a very beautiful trophy'," Sindarov said in his interview with Fide, placing his hand on it for a split second.

That trophy, named after Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand, is now his.

The 19-year-old Grandmaster from Uzbekistan was crowned champion of the 2025 World Cup - held in Anand's country for the first time since 2002 and by the beaches of Goa - by defeating Chinese GM Wei Yi in the tie-breaks on Wednesday.

Embraced by his family and team outside the playing ...