India is all set to host the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025, bringing the prestigious global event back to the country after a gap of 23 years. Scheduled from October 30 to November 27, the tournament will feature 206 of the world’s top players, with the host city yet to be officially announced.

The last time India hosted the FIDE World Cup was in 2002 in Hyderabad, where Viswanathan Anand clinched the title. Since then, India has emerged as a major player in the global chess circuit, hosting several top-tier events and producing a new generation of elite grandmasters.

Knockout format continues

The World Cup will retain its single-elimination knockout format introduced in 2021. Each round will span three days: two classical games followed by tie-breaks, if necessary. The top 50 seeds will receive first-round byes, while players ranked 51 to 206 will compete in Round 1 in a top-half vs reversed lower-half pairing system.

Three candidate spots on offer

The stakes are high as the tournament will serve as a qualifier for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, which determines the next challenger for the World Chess Championship. The top three finishers at the World Cup will secure direct entry to the Candidates.

Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa, andCarlsen among  participants

The 2025 edition promises a star-studded lineup, with several Indian talents and global heavyweights in contention. Among those confirmed are:D Gukesh, current World Champion, R Praggnanandhaa, 2023 World Cup runner-up, Arjun Erigaisi, ranked World No. 5, and Magnus Carlsen, World No. 1 and 2023 World Cup winner.Carlsen’s participation adds further prestige to the event, with the Norwegian expected to attract strong international viewership.

India's Chess footprint expands

The announcement underscores India’s growing prominence in the world of chess. In recent years, the country has hosted several high-profile events, including:

  • 2022 Chess Olympiad
  • Tata Steel Chess India
  • 2024 World Junior U20 Championships
  • 5th Leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, in an official statement, highlighted India’s deep-rooted connection with the game: “We are thrilled to bring the FIDE World Cup 2025 to India, a country with a deep-rooted passion and support for chess. Indian chess fans’ enthusiasm has always been remarkable, and we anticipate great interest in the event among local chess lovers, both on-site and online.”

As the chess world turns its eyes to India once again, the 2025 World Cup is expected to be a landmark event, both for Indian chess and the global sporting calendar.