FIDE World Cup 2025 to be Hosted in Goa from October 30 to November 27, 2025.
Sports
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has officially announced Goa, India, as the host city for the FIDE World Cup 2025, which will be held from October 30 to November 27, 2025. The event will feature 206 top players competing for a USD 2 million prize fund and three qualifying spots for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
- The FIDE World Cup 2025 will be a biennial knockout chess tournament, serving as a key qualifying event for the Candidates Tournament that decides the challenger for the World Chess Championship. This makes the Goa edition highly significant for global chess.
- The tournament format will be eight-round knockout, where each match consists of two classical games, followed by tie-breakers in rapid, blitz, or Armageddon if required. This ensures intense and competitive gameplay throughout the championship.
- Participation will see players seeded 51–206 competing in the first round, while the top 50 seeds automatically enter the second round. This structure ensures balanced competition and wider global representation across over 90 countries.
Main Point :- (i) The significance of the event lies in its direct qualification spots for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The top three finishers in Goa will secure their place, boosting competitive chess and promoting the sport further, especially in India.
(ii) India is expected to have at least 21 players competing, including legends like Viswanathan Anand, reigning World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, and several other Olympiad stars like Vidit Gujrathi, Nihal Sarin, Raja Rithvik R, and Aravindh Chithambaram. This makes Goa’s hosting a milestone moment for Indian chess.
(iii) The USD 2 million prize fund further elevates the tournament’s prestige, placing it among the richest and most competitive chess tournaments worldwide, with Goa emerging as a new global hub for international chess events.
About Goa
Chief minister: Pramod Sawant
Governor: Ashok Gajapathi Raju
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