FIDE World Cup 2025 to be Hosted in India

• 22 Jul 2025

Why in news? 

India will host the Chess World Cup 2025 from 30 October 2025 to 27 November 2025, with the host city announcement to be made later by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). 

Key Points 

About the Tournament 

• Tournament Format:  
  • The FIDE World Cup 2025 will follow a knockout format, with 206 players competing. 
  • The tournament has a dynamic elimination system where the losing player is eliminated after each round. 
  • Each round spans three days: two classical games on the first two days, followed by tie-breaks on the third day if necessary. 
  • The top 50 players will receive byes in the first round, while the rest will compete based on a principle where the top half faces the reversed lower half. 
• Qualification Pathways: 
  • Direct qualification: The top three finishers of the 2025 World Cup will earn direct entry to the 2026 Candidates Tournament. 
  • Players eligible: Reigning World Champion, top four finishers from the 2023 World Cup, Women’s World Champion, 2024 World Junior Champion (U-20), and other continental qualifiers. 
  • Continental spots: 80 spots will be granted to players through Continental events, with each continent receiving a different allocation (Africa: 3, Asia: 35, Europe: 30, Americas: 3). 
  • Top-rated players: The highest-rated players from the June 2025 FIDE rating list will also receive invitations, along with players from the top 100 national federations from the 2024 Chess Olympiad. 

 

About India’s Contribution to Chess 

• India’s Major Achievements: 
  • India’s has produced some of the world’s most celebrated chess players, most notably Viswanathan Anand, a five-time World Champion and current FIDE Deputy President, who has helped elevate India’s status as a global chess hub.  
  • The emergence of young talents like Gukesh Dommaraju, Praggnanandhaa R, and Arjun Erigaisi, have transformed the nation’s chess landscape. 
  • In 2024, India made history by winning its first-ever gold medals in both the Open and Women’s Chess Olympiad teams.  
  • The 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship was won by Gukesh Dommaraju, who became the youngest Chess World Champion in history at age 18.  
    • He defeated the reigning champion Ding Liren (China) in a 14-game classical match held in Singapore. 
    • The FIDE World Championship 2024 match was also the first in 138 years to feature two contestants from Asia. 
  • Praggnanandhaa R also finished as the runner-up in the 2023 World Cup. 
• Major Chess Events in India: India’s success in hosting international chess events is well established. Notable recent events include: 
  • FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022: Held in Mamallapuram, this event was a major organizational success. 
  • Tata Steel Chess India: A key event in the global chess calendar. 
  • FIDE World Junior U20 Championship 2024: Hosted by India, showcasing the country’s growing reputation as a destination for high-level chess. 
  • FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (2025): A part of the global chess series highlighting women’s participation in the sport.