The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has announced that the 2025 World Cup will be hosted in Goa, marking the tournament’s return to India after more than two decades. The last time India staged the event was in 2002, when Hyderabad hosted the second edition of the World Cup.
Although New Delhi was initially selected as the venue, logistical concerns prompted FIDE to shift the tournament to Goa. A total of 206 participants will compete in this eight-round knockout event, which follows the high-stakes “win-or-go-home” format. The prize purse for the championship is set at two million US dollars.
As per the format, the top 50 seeded players will receive byes into the second round, while the remaining participants will begin from Round 1. Each encounter will comprise two classical games; if a winner is not determined, rapid and blitz tie-breaks will be played.
Beyond prize money and the coveted title, there is an even bigger incentive — the top three finishers of the Goa World Cup will secure places in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, the gateway to determining the next challenger for the World Chess Championship.
The occasion also carries special resonance for India’s chess legacy. Legendary Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand had won the first two World Cups in 2000 and 2002. More recently, in 2023 at Baku (Azerbaijan), India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa made history by finishing runner-up, with Norway’s Magnus Carlsen clinching the title.
With world’s finest grandmasters set to converge, Goa 2025 promises to deliver electrifying battles and showcase the growing global impact of Indian chess.
