Chess World Cup Kicks Off in Goa with the Unveiling of the Viswanathan Anand Cup: The Chess World Cup officially got underway on Saturday, but the celebrations began a day earlier in Goa with a dazzling opening ceremony. The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the winner’s trophy, now named after India’s chess legend Viswanathan Anand.
A Tribute to the King of Indian Chess
All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang shared the exciting news on social media, revealing that the trophy will be called the Viswanathan Anand Cup.
He wrote, “Extremely proud and delighted to announce the Viswanathan Anand Cup, the FIDE World Cup (Open) Winner’s Running Trophy, instituted in honor of the King of Chess and India’s first Grandmaster, Shri Viswanathan Anand. This running trophy stands as an emblem of the great strides of Indian chess and the remarkable achievements and legacy of @vishy64theking, destined to be cherished and extolled for centuries and passing through generations of chess prodigies.”
The stunning trophy design features India’s national bird, the peacock, captured in a graceful dance pose. It will be awarded to the tournament champion on November 26.
Tournament Schedule and Format
The Chess World Cup runs from November 1 to November 26. The early rounds will see players battling it out in intense knockout matches:
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- Round 1: November 1-3
- Round 2: November 4-6
- Round 3: November 7-9
- Round 4: November 11-13
- Round 5: November 14-16
After these rounds, the competition heats up with the quarterfinals (Nov 17–19), semifinals (Nov 21–23), and the final from Nov 24-26, which includes tie-breakers if needed.
Prize Money and Stakes
With a total prize fund of $2 million, the competition is one of the biggest in chess. The winner will take home $120,000, the runner-up gets $85,000, the third-place finisher earns $60,000, and fourth place receives $50,000.
Who’s Competing
A total of 206 players will compete in a two-game knockout format spread across eight rounds. Each round lasts three days – two for classical matches and one for possible tie-breaks.
The top 50 players automatically move into the second round, while those seeded 51 to 206 face off first. Pairings follow the traditional system of the top half playing against the reversed lower half.
The Road to the World Championship
Beyond the prize money and glory, there’s a lot at stake – the top three finishers in this World Cup will earn direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which decides who will challenge for the next World Chess Championship title.
The stage is set, the stakes are high, and with the Viswanathan Anand Cup now symbolizing excellence, this year’s World Cup promises to be a truly historic one for chess fans around the world.
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