Goa is set to become the global capital of chess this week as 206 of the world’s top players from more than 80 countries gather for the 2025 FIDE World Cup, one of the sport’s most prestigious and fiercely contested tournaments. The event, running from October 30 to November 27, will see players battle through a gruelling knockout format for a share of the USD 2 million prize fund and, more importantly, three qualification spots for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament , the final gateway to the World Championship match.
“India is not just the ancient home of chess; it is a modern powerhouse,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). “For the next four weeks, Goa will not just be a coastal paradise; it will be the Colosseum of Chess. This is where legends are forged and new champions born.”
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The FIDE World Cup’s format is a unique single-elimination event featuring eight rounds. Each match consists of two classical games, followed by rapid and blitz tie-breaks if scores are level. The top 50 seeds, including the world’s highest-rated grandmasters, receive byes into the second round, while 156 players begin their campaigns on November 1.
All games will take place at Resort Rio, Goa’s largest convention hall near Baga Beach, offering a luxurious stage for one of the chess world’s most anticipated competitions.
This is the first FIDE World Cup on Indian soil since 2002, when Viswanathan Anand triumphed in Hyderabad, marking a turning point in India’s rise as a chess powerhouse. Over two decades later, India enters the 2025 edition as a dominant force, boasting World Champion D. Gukesh, Women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh, and a new generation of prodigies , Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Nihal Sarin.
“I’m really excited to play the World Cup in India,” said Gukesh D, the reigning World Champion and top seed. “Goa brings back great memories from my junior days.” Gukesh heads into the event in blistering form after a 2927 performance at the European Team Championship, where he led his team to gold.
Arjun Erigaisi, one of the most consistent performers on the global circuit, and R. Praggnanandhaa, who skipped recent events to focus on preparation, round out India’s trio of home favourites.
Global Contenders to Watch
Among the international challengers, Germany’s Vincent Keymer, currently world number four, is seen as a strong contender after earning silver on board one at the European Team Championship. Anish Giri of the Netherlands, fresh off his victory at the Samarkand Grand Swiss, enters the tournament in peak form and already qualified for the 2026 Candidates.
“I’ve come close to qualifying before,” Giri said. “The World Cup is always intense, one mistake and you’re out. It’s the ultimate test.”
American stars Wesley So and Levon Aronian also feature among the favourites. So arrives in Goa unbeaten from the U.S. Championship, while Aronian, the 2017 World Cup winner, has enjoyed a stellar 2025 season with multiple titles and a third-place finish at the same event.
As the chess world turns its eyes to Goa, excitement is at a fever pitch. With record participation, elite competition, and India’s best-ever lineup, the 2025 FIDE World Cup promises to be a defining chapter in the game’s modern era and possibly the stage where a new world champion’s story begins.
