CULTURE

Footer Column 2

Footer Legal

Footer Main

Nav Bar

OTHER

SPORTS

Subscribe, at any level, to play

Thanks for your interest in Defector Crosswords!

Become a subscriber today to get unlimited access

Thanks for reading!

Plans start at $8/month.

Subscribers enjoy unlimited, ad-free browsing.

Register to continue

Or click here to subscribe for unlimited, ad-free access!

Our gift to you: This year's post is unlocked. Register your email to get even more free articles.

Welcome to the 2025 Hater's Guide!

Just register your email:

This blog is free to read.

This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

Defector

Patrick Redford

Sindarov Javokhir of Uzbekistan competes against Matlakov Maxim of Russia during the Rapid Open sixth round of the FIDE World Rapid &amp; Blitz Championship at the Sports and Events Complex, Qatar University, in Doha, Qatar, on December 27, 2025. (Photo by Noushad Thekkayil/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Chess

An Uzbek Chess Prodigy Is Laying Waste To The World’s Best Players

Javokhir Sindarov