Goa to host Chess World Cup 2025 as showpiece event returns to India after 23 years

Goa is set to host the Chess World Cup 2025 from October 30 to November 27. The prestigious tournament returns to India after 23 years, last held in 2002, when the legendary Viswanathan Anand clinched the title with Uzbekistan’s Rustam Kasimdzhanov finishing as runner-up.

A total of 206 participants are set to battle in one of chess’s most intense knockout showdowns, with a massive USD 2,000,000 prize fund on the line. Known for its unforgiving win-or-go-home format, the World Cup continues to be among the sport’s most riveting spectacles.

The tournament will unfold over eight rounds of knockout drama, pushing players to the limits of skill, endurance, and composure. Following tradition, the top 50 seeds will bypass the opening round, while the remaining competitors begin their journey from Round 1. Each clash will be contested over two classical games, preserving the essence of long-format chess, with rapid and blitz tie-breakers waiting should scores remain level.

The rewards extend well beyond prize money or glory. The World Cup doubles as a vital gateway to the 2026 Candidates Tournament, with the top three finishers earning prized qualification spots. As the Candidates decide who advances to challenge for the World Championship, every move in Goa will carry weight far beyond the board.

On India being the hosts for the World Cup, Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President, said, “India has become one of the strongest chess nations, with outstanding players and passionate fans. After the success of the FIDE Women’s World Cup held in Georgia earlier this year, we are proud to bring the FIDE World Cup to Goa.”

“It will be a celebration of chess, and a unique experience for players and spectators from around the world. The representatives of 90+ countries are expected to take part, and it will be one of the most followed events in chess history.”

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