India is set to become the epicentre of global chess action as it hosts the prestigious FIDE World Cup 2025 from October 30 to November 27, announced the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The host city is yet to be revealed.
This mega event marks the return of the tournament to Indian soil after 23 years—Hyderabad last welcomed it in 2002 when Viswanathan Anand clinched the title. The 2025 edition will feature 206 players, battling it out in a knockout format, where each round spans three days. Top 50 seeds get byes in the opening round, while others compete based on a paired seeding system.
The stakes are sky-high, with the top three finishers securing direct entry to the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, the gateway to the World Chess Championship.
Global heavyweights will participate, including reigning World Champion D. Gukesh, 2023 runner-up R. Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and former champion and world number one Magnus Carlsen, who has already qualified.
India’s recent chess hosting streak includes events like the 2022 Chess Olympiad, Tata Steel Chess India, and the 2024 World Junior U20 Championships, reinforcing its role as a rising global chess hub.
“We are thrilled to bring the FIDE World Cup 2025 to India, a country with deep-rooted passion and support for chess,” said FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, anticipating widespread excitement among Indian fans.
