Goa: The serious business gets underway at the FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa on Tuesday as big names, including world champion D Gukesh, India No. 1 Arjun Erigaisi, and R Praggnanandhaa, kick off their campaigns in Round 2 at the Resort Rio Convention Centre.
The top 50 seeds were granted byes in Round 1, and with their entry, the tournament now moves into its most competitive phase. Alongside 17 Indians, elite international grandmasters such as Anish Giri, Hans Niemann, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Levon Aronian, and Wesley So are also set to make their first appearances on Tuesday.
The World Cup offers three qualification spots for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the event that will decide who challenges Gukesh for the World Championship title next year. Though already qualified, the 19-year-old champion said he is using the event to “hone his skills under knockout pressure.”
Latest results & highlights
The opening week produced a mix of breakthroughs and heartbreaks:
Faustino Oro (ARG, 12) became the youngest ever to reach Round 2 after stunning an experienced grandmaster in tiebreaks.
Indian GM SL Narayanan defeated Kacper Piorun (POL) in tiebreaks.
IM Aronyak Ghosh staged a comeback to overcome Mateusz Bartel (POL) 2.5–1.5.
Divya Deshmukh, India’s Women’s World Cup winner and the only woman in the open field, bowed out after losing to Benjamin Bok (NED).
Other Indian exits include Lalit Babu, Leon Mendonca, and Rithvik Raja, making it five Indians out after Round 1.
Tournament overview
The World Cup 2025, running from October 31 to November 27, features 206 players and a ₹18 crore (USD 2 million) prize pool. Matches are played in a two-game classical knockout format, followed by rapid and blitz tiebreaks if tied.
Top contenders now entering the fray include Erigaisi, Praggnanandhaa, Nepomniachtchi, Caruana, and Firouzja — all eyeing those precious Candidates spots.
Indian focus
India’s chess contingent remains one of the largest in the event’s history. With Gukesh already world champion, national attention is on Erigaisi and Praggnanandhaa, both seeking to qualify for the Candidates. Narayanan and Ghosh’s Round 1 heroics have also boosted home expectations.
The Goa venue has become a buzzing hub of fans, families, and young aspirants, turning the quiet coastal town into the nerve center of global chess.
Roundup & what’s next
As Round 2 unfolds, the stage is set for high-profile clashes between veterans and prodigies. Gukesh’s entry brings extra spotlight, while the unpredictability of knockout chess means every mistake could prove fatal.
With upsets already rewriting narratives, the 2025 World Cup is shaping up as a tournament of new beginnings — where India’s young generation, led by Gukesh, Arjun, and Pragg, aims to cement its dominance on home soil.
Key details:
Venue: Resort Rio Convention Centre, Goa
Dates: Oct 31 – Nov 27 2025
Format: Knockout (2 classical + rapid/blitz tiebreaks)
Prize Pool: ₹18 crore (≈ USD 2 million)
Top 3: Qualify for 2026 Candidates
World Champion: D Gukesh (IND)
Women’s World Cup winner: Divya Deshmukh (IND, eliminated Round 1)
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