FIDE World Cup 2025 – India Gears Up to Host One of Chess’s Biggest Events: The FIDE World Cup is one of the most exciting and prestigious tournaments in world chess. Known for its intense knockout format, it brings together some of the best players from across the globe.
The 2025 edition will be extra special, as it marks the 11th World Cup and will take place right here in India from October 30 to November 7, 2025.
Where Will the FIDE World Cup 2025 Be Held?
This year’s event will be hosted at Resort Rio in North Goa, offering players and fans a scenic backdrop for some world-class chess action.
How Many Players Are Competing In The FIDE World Cup 2025?
A whopping 206 players will take part in the main draw, making it one of the biggest World Cups ever organized by FIDE.
Record-Breaking Indian Participation
India will have its largest-ever representation at a FIDE World Cup 2025, with 24 Indian players qualifying for the 2025 edition. It’s a proud moment for Indian chess and a reflection of the country’s growing dominance on the global stage.
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The Indian lineup includes:
D. Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa R, Arjun Erigaisi, Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, Harikrishna Pentala, Raunak Sadhwani, Leon Luke Mendonca, Iniyan Pa, Pranav V, Raja Rithvik R, Narayanan SL, Pranesh M, Harshavardhan GB, Karthikeyan Murali, Idani Pouya, Karthik Venkataraman, Surya Shekhar Ganguly, Neelash Saha, Diptayan Ghosh, Aromyak Ghosh, Himal Gusain, Lalit Babu MR, and Vidit Gujrathi.
Who Leads the Field?
Reigning World Champion D. Gukesh headlines the tournament as the top seed. This will be his first major competition on home soil since winning the world title, making it an event that fans are eagerly waiting for.
How Does the Format Work?
The FIDE World Cup uses a two-game knockout format spread across eight rounds.
Each round features:
- Two classical games played over the first two days
- A tiebreak on the third day if scores are level
The top 50 seeds will receive a bye in the first round, while players ranked 51 to 206 will compete in the opening stage based on a “top-half vs reversed-lower-half” pairing system.
What Is the Time Control?
- Classical: Each player gets 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.
- Tiebreaker rules:
What’s at Stake?
Aside from the prize money and prestige of winning one of the biggest events in world chess, the top three finishers will secure a direct spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which decides who will challenge the reigning World Champion.
FIDE World Cup 2025 Schedule:
Here’s the full schedule for the FIDE World Cup 2025 (All times IST):
- Nov 1-3: Round 1 (Games + Tiebreaks)
- Nov 4-6: Round 2 (Games + Tiebreaks)
- Nov 7-9: Round 3 (Games + Tiebreaks)
- Nov 11-13: Round 4 (Games + Tiebreaks)
- Nov 14-16: Round 5 (Games + Tiebreaks)
- Nov 17-19: Quarterfinals
- Nov 21-23: Semifinals
- Nov 24-26: Finals
All games will begin at 3:00 PM IST.
With so many top players and a record number of Indians in the mix, the 2025 FIDE World Cup promises to be one of the most thrilling editions yet – and chess fans around the world will have their eyes on Goa.
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