FIDE Confirms Chess World Cup 2025 in India

Overview: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has officially announced that India will host the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 from October 30 to November 27. Goa is emerging as the likely venue for this prestigious 206-player knockout event, which serves as a qualifier for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Indian stars like D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa are expected to shine on home soil.

Riyaz

Jul-22-2025

FIDE Confirms Chess World Cup 2025 in India

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has confirmed officially that India will host the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 between October 30 and November 27. The actual host city has not been announced, but it is Goa that is coming up as the favorite. It is a very prestigious knockout tournament where 206 players will participate, and it will also qualify the 2026 Candidates Tournament. It is the second time that the country is holding the event with the first one having taken place at Hyderabad in 2002. Indian hopefuls such as D. Gukesh and R. Praggnanandhaa are likely to cause an impact.

Context

Again India is reestablishing herself in the world chess map. With the successful hosting of Chess Olympiad 2022 at Mamallapuram, the move made by FIDE to host the World Cup in India is a sign that the country is gaining considerable influence and infrastructure within the context of the game.
The tournament is going to happen when India has a new breed of world-class players.

Key Highlights

Host Nation and Potential Venue

Host: India
Tentative Destination: Goa (confirmed)
Period: October 30 2025 November 27 2025
Type of event: 206 players knockout tournament

Importance of World Cup

Is a qualifier to the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026
One of the FIDE largest events
Indian players chance of qualifying to the World Championship

Hosting & Legacy by India in the Past

In 2002, held in Hyderabad and won by Viswanathan Anand
Mamallapuram hosted Chess Olympiad 2022 successfully
India has emerged as a competitive force in world chess and it is all because of the base of young chess players in the country

Future Indian Chess competitors in 2025

D. Gukesh- Current World Champion
R. Praggnanandhaa
Arjun Erigaisi
Vidit Gujrathi and the other highest caliber grandmasters had been expected to feed in it

About FIDE

Aspect	Details
Full Form	Fédération Internationale des Échecs (World Chess Federation)
Founded	July 20, 1924, in Paris, France
HQ	Lausanne, Switzerland
Motto	Gens Una Sumus – "We are one family"
IOC Recognition	Since 1999
Member Federations	201 (as of December 2023)

About FIDE World Cup

Feature	Description
Started	2000
Format Since 2005	128-player single-elimination tournament (now expanded to 206 in 2025)
Qualification	Top finishers qualify for FIDE Candidates Tournament
Match Style	7 rounds of 2 classical games + tiebreaks (rapid & blitz); 4 games in Final
Importance	A key step in the World Chess Championship cycle

Conclusion

The move by FIDE to bring the 2025 Chess World Cup to India is a landmark experience in the making of the chess game in the land. India has the potential of Coasting the best of this world opportunity with a subsequent number of upstarts and a well-developed infrastructure. In addition to enhancing Indian chess, the event shall also strengthen the international sports hub status of the country.