The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa has been nothing short of a rollercoaster for chess fans, especially for those rooting for Team India. With 24 fierce Indian players stepping into the legendary, hopes were sky-high. But as always, chess is a game of surprises, heartbreaks, and jaw-dropping shocks.
Indians In The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 1
Out of the 24 Indians in Round 1, some witnessed expected wins, but some also shook the fans hard with early upsets. The nerve-wracking battles eliminated 7 Indians in Round 1 alone, including some promising names like Divya Deshmukh, the recent winner of the Women’s World Cup 2025.
But hats off to the 17 warriors who made it through to Round 2. Leading the pack were big guns like R. Praggnanandhaa, D. Gukesh, and Arjun Erigaisi, names that scream the best of Indian chess.
When Is The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 2?
FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 2 is set to be an electrifying showdown as it kicks off on November 4-6, 2025, right here in Goa. For chess fans, the action will be live-streamed on FIDE YouTube + Chess.com as well as Chessbase. Whether you’re a chess newbie or a grandmaster in waiting, you won’t want to miss the epic battles ahead.
FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Round 2: Indian Pairings
Now, let’s talk FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 round 2 pairings because here’s where the chessboard heats up real quick for our Indian contenders:
| Indian Player | Rating | Opponent | Opponent Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| GM D Gukesh | 2752 | GM Kazybek Nogerbek (KAZ) | 2543 |
| GM Arjun Erigaisi | 2773 | GM Martin Petrov (BUL) | 2540 |
| GM R Praggnanandhaa | 2771 | GM Temur Kuybokarov (AUS) | 2535 |
| GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly | 2573 | GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) | 2737 |
| GM Diptayan Ghosh | 2573 | GM Ian Nepomniachtchi (FID) | 2732 |
| IM Ghosh Aronyak | 2514 | GM Levon Aronian (USA) | 2722 |
| GM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit | 2716 | IM Faustino Oro (ARG) | 2509 |
| GM Venkataraman Karthik | 2579 | GM Chithambaram Vr. Aravindh (IND) | 2711 |
| GM Chithambaram Vr. Aravindh | 2711 | GM Venkataraman Karthik (IND) | 2579 |
| GM Sarin Nihal | 2700 | GM Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis (GRE) | 2583 |
| GM Pentala Harikrishna | 2697 | GM Arseniy Nesterov (FID) | 2584 |
| GM Murali Karthikeyan | 2662 | GM Pouya Idani (IRI) | 2601 |
| GM Pa Iniyan | 2599 | GM Thai Dai Van Nguyen (CZE) | 2664 |
| GM S L Narayanan | 2617 | GM Nikita Vitiugov (ENG) | 2654 |
| GM Pranesh M | 2630 | GM Dmitrij Kollars (GER) | 2642 |
| GM Pranav V | 2641 | GM Aryan Tari (NOR) | 2631 |
| GM Raunak Sadhwani | 2641 | GM Robert Hovhannisyan (ARM) | 2633 |
Each pairing promises drama, intense concentration, and strategies that can flip the outcome in seconds. With the stakes higher and the competition stiffer, Round 2 could make or break careers. But if Indian players keep their cool and chess brains sharp, the path ahead looks promising.
So, mark your calendars and get ready to cheer because Team India’s journey at the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 is just heating up. Stay tuned for live updates, thrilling games, and maybe some glorious upsets that will keep chess fans on the edge of their seats.
Also read: Wild Card Divya Deshmukh Exits From FIDE World Cup 2025
