“India is delighted to be hosting the prestigious FIDE World Cup 2025 after over two decades”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed the announcement of Goa as the host for the FIDE World Cup 2025, which will be held in India for the first time in 23 years.
FIDE released a statement on Tuesday evening to confirm Goa as the venue for one of the world’s famed chess events, where top-tier players from around the globe will gather. India last hosted the tournament in 2002 in Hyderabad, which concluded with grandmaster Viswanathan Anand lifting the crown.
“India is delighted to be hosting the prestigious FIDE World Cup 2025 and that too after over two decades. Chess is gaining popularity among our youth. I am sure this tournament will witness thrilling matches and showcase the brilliance of top players from around the world,” PM Modi wrote on X.
The much-awaited spectacle brings together 206 players competing on India’s west coast for a share of USD 2,000,000 and three coveted places in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Every round will be a win-or-go-home affair, making the World Cup one of the most dramatic tournaments on the calendar.
The tournament will run from October 30 to November 27, and will be played in a two-game knockout format over eight rounds. There will be two classical games, with rapid and blitz playoffs in place if the games are tied. The top three finishers qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
India has been a dominant force in chess for years. Last year, D Gukesh won the World Championship, while Indian teams took the top prize in the Chess Olympiad in both Open and Women’s categories. In July of this year, Divya Deshmukh became the first Indian to win the Women’s Chess World Cup, garnering national attention and hosting the Open World Cup in Goa.-TIN Bureau