The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that Goa will be the official host of the FIDE World Cup 2025, scheduled from October 30 to November 27, 2025.
The prestigious tournament will feature 206 players in an eight-round knockout format, with the top three earning coveted spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the World Chess Championship.
Highlighting Goa’s “stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality,” FIDE said the state will provide a world-class backdrop for players and fans. India, which last hosted the event in Hyderabad in 2002 where Viswanathan Anand triumphed, has since risen as a chess powerhouse, with World Champion D. Gukesh, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi among the leading contenders.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich called the Goa World Cup “a celebration of chess” that will attract representatives from over 90 countries. All India Chess Federation (AICF) president Nitin Narang described it as a proud moment, adding that the event would “inspire millions across India and showcase the nation’s growing stature as a global chess hub.”