India makes its move: Goa CM Pramod Sawant unveils FIDE World Cup 2025 logo and anthem
206 players from 82 countries to compete as music legend Daler Mehndi lends his voice to an anthem celebrating Goa’s cultural flair Panaji, October 21: A glittering ceremony celebrating Goa’s rich cultural heritage and India’s growing stature as a global chess powerhouse marked the launch of the official logo and anthem of the FIDE World Cup 2025, unveiled by Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant in Goa on Tuesday. Returning to India after 23 years, the prestigious tournament will feature 206 players from 82 countries, with the anthem—voiced by music legend Daler Mehndi—capturing the spirit and vibrancy of Goa. The FIDE World Cup 2025, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the global chess calendar, will be held in North Goa from October 31 to November 27, 2025, bringing together elite players from across the world in a knockout contest for a prize purse of USD 2 million (approx. INR 17.58 crore). While the logo reflects Goa’s vibrant, culturally rich identity—capturing the essence of the state’s coastal charm and the strategic elegance of chess—the anthem, sung by legendary artist Daler Mehndi, adds a touch of grandeur and mystique to the event. Speaking at the launch ceremony, Honb’le Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said, “It is a moment of immense pride for Goa to host the FIDE World Cup 2025, one of the most prestigious events in global chess. This milestone not only reaffirms our state’s commitment to becoming a premier destination for international sport but also celebrates India’s rising prominence on the world chess stage. The official logo and anthem reflect the very soul of Goa — vibrant, creative, and deeply rooted in culture — while capturing the strategic elegance of chess. We are ready to welcome the world’s finest players to our shores for 28 days of top-class competition, camaraderie, and an experience that blends the spirit of Goa with the brilliance of the game.” The logo and anthem launch was also attended by Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar, Minister for Art and Culture, Tribal Welfare, and Sports and Youth Affairs, Nitin Narang, President of the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and Dev Patel, Secretary AICF. Dr. Ramesh Tawadkar, Minister for Art and Culture, Tribal Welfare, and Sports and Youth Affairs, said, “The FIDE World Cup 2025 is a remarkable opportunity to bring together culture, art, tourism, and sports on one grand stage. Goa has always been known for its vibrant heritage and hospitality, and this event will showcase how seamlessly our cultural identity blends with the global spirit of competition. The World Cup will stand as a testament to Goa’s ability to celebrate excellence — on and off the chessboard — while promoting our state as a world-class destination for sport and tourism.” Complementing the visual identity of the event is its official anthem — a dynamic celebration of India’s strategic prowess and youthful energy. Featuring the Hon’ble Prime Minister in its music video, the anthem brings together the spirit of the nation with the brilliance of chess. Iconic singer Daler Mehndi, known for his powerful and distinctive voice, infuses the anthem with his signature vibrancy, rhythm, and energy. Centered around the empowering theme “It’s Your Move,” the song captures the essence of India’s growing might in world chess while highlighting the vibrancy of its culture. The video also showcases India’s leading chess grandmasters and stars like World Champion D. Gukesh, Arjun Erigaisi, Koneru Humpy, Tania Sachdev, and Vidit Gujarati, symbolizing the new generation that is taking Indian chess to unprecedented heights. AICF President Nitin Narang thanked the Goa government for their support for the event and said, “Securing the hosting rights for the FIDE World Cup 2025 is a landmark moment for India and a testament to our growing credibility in the global chess community. Bringing a tournament of this magnitude to our shores — after 23 years — is not just a sporting success, but a proud national achievement. It will give Indian fans a rare opportunity to witness the world’s best players compete on home soil, inspiring a new generation to take up the sport. The anthem, with its energy and emotion, will revitalize chess across the country and take the game from clubs and academies into every home in India.” About the World Cup 2025 logo The logo feature three distinctive trapezoidal panels, the design captures different facets of Goa and the tournament itself. The Green Panel shows a white palm tree with a blue wave at the bottom. The Red Panel boasts of a diamond-shaped checkerboard pattern in white while the Yellow panel has a stylised sun with curved rays, representing Goa’s sunny weather and warm, welcoming vibe.
FIDE World Cup 2025: Round one pairings revealed
The Round One pairings for the 2025 FIDE World Cup in Goa have been released, unveiling a slate of exciting early matchups. While most top seeds are automatically placed into Round 2, the opening round still promises compelling encounters as 156 players battle to advance in this elite knockout event. The tournament features 206 participants and serves as a crucial qualifier for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The top three finishers in Goa will earn direct spots in that highly exclusive competition — putting immense pressure on every round. A detailed tournament preview will be published closer to the November 1st start date. However, the full list of wildcards, host nominees, and last-minute replacements already deserves special attention. The inclusion of some fantastic rising stars and replacements, ensures a dynamic and unpredictable start to the championship. President Dvorkovich’s wildcards While wildcard invitations represent a small fraction of the overall field, they often spotlight the future stars of the game. Nevertheless, the wildcards—special invitations granted outside the standard qualification paths—make up only a small fraction of the 206-player field. “FIDE always works hard to find ways to give talented players a chance to improve and make their mark. The decision to award invites to these five players is based on a mix of recent performance, high-level potential and their contribution to the sport,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. The wildcard list leans heavily toward youth, featuring promising talents such as GM’s Mishra, Woodward and Oro, and also a very young World Rapid Champion, GM Murzin. By spotlighting young and emerging players, FIDE is clearly using the wildcard system as a developmental tool—investing in future stars and encouraging their continued growth on the world stage. “The World Cup is one of the most difficult and most exciting chess events, given its knockout format, and will be a great opportunity for these players to show their best facing the best,” Dvorkovich added. Let’s take a quick look at the six wildcard invitees—each a rising talent or notable figure who adds depth and intrigue to the 2025 FIDE World Cup line-up. Kirill Alekseenko (Austria) Born in 1997, Kirill Alekseenko is a seasoned grandmaster who began representing Austria in 2023. A GM since 2015, Alekseenko made headlines by breaking into the 2700+ rating club after finishing third in the 2019 FIDE Grand Swiss, a result that earned him a wildcard to the 2020 Candidates Tournament. With a wealth of top-level experience, Alekseenko remains a formidable presence on the circuit. He has recently posted strong performances in several Spanish Open events and is currently one of the highest-rated players not directly qualified for the 2025 World Cup. According to FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, Alekseenko was awarded a wildcard because he was unable to participate in the Grand Swiss in Samarkand due to “circumstances beyond his control.” Given his proven calibre, awarding him a spot was seen as a fair and justified decision. Aleksey Grebnev (FIDE) Playing under the FIDE flag, Aleksey Grebnev, born in 2006, claimed his place by defeating fellow prodigy, French Grandmaster Marc’Andria Maurizzi, in a two-game classical match held a few days ago in Serbia. The win earned him the last of the six wildcard invitations, all selected by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. Grebnev’s trajectory has been nothing short of meteoric. He captured the World Under-18 Championship in 2023, followed by the Asian Junior title in 2024, and most recently triumphed at the Dubai Open. With a current FIDE rating of 2611, the 19-year-old is poised to make a serious impact in Goa. In Grebnev’s case, the selection recognizes both his consistent results and his potential to challenge the world’s best on the biggest stages. Abhimanyu Mishra (USA) Born in 2009 in New Jersey, Abhimanyu Mishra is an American grandmaster widely regarded as one of the most exceptional young talents in global chess. Currently rated 2652, Mishra made history in June 2021 by becoming the youngest grandmaster of all time at just 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days, surpassing the long-standing record held by Sergey Karjakin. Mishra continues to break new ground. At the FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand last month, he defeated reigning World Champion GM D. Gukesh in a gruelling 61-move classical game—becoming the youngest player ever to beat a sitting world champion in a classical format. That landmark victory, along with a series of strong performances throughout the tournament, propelled Mishra into the FIDE Top 100, underlining his credentials as a genuine contender among the world’s top juniors and a rising force on the elite circuit. Volodar Murzin (FIDE) Born in 2006 in Nizhny Tagil, Russia, Volodar Murzin has emerged as one of the brightest young chess talents in recent years. He first gained international attention by winning the European Youth U12 Championship in 2018, followed by a national triumph at the 2020 Russian Junior Championship. Murzin earned the grandmaster title in 2022, but his breakout moment on the world stage came in 2024, when he captured the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York, finishing with an unbeaten score of 10/13. Along the way, he defeated elite players such as Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda—a feat that cemented his status as a rising star among the game’s elite. With a current classical rating of 2664, Murzin is now approaching the global top 50, and his rapid ascent makes him a player to watch closely at the 2025 FIDE World Cup. Faustino Oro (Argentina) Born in 2013 in Buenos Aires, Faustino Oro is an Argentine chess prodigy already being hailed as “the Messi of chess.” He began playing in 2020, during the pandemic, and quickly drew global attention by reaching a FIDE rating of 2300 at just 9 years old—the youngest player ever to do so at the time. In June 2024, Oro broke another record by becoming the youngest International Master in history, earning the title at 10 years, 8 months, and 16 days. He continued his rapid rise in September 2025,
A new generation of chess players gets an invite for the FIDE World Cup
Rising stars and top performers Faustino Oro, Andy Woodward, Abhimanyu Mishra and Volodar Murzin will join well-known GM Kirill Alekseenko at the FIDE World Cup this November in India. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has officially granted the invitations for this year’s FIDE World Cup, which will take place in Goa from 30th October to 27th November. The World Cup will be a unique chance for these top talents to compete in one of the most prestigious tournaments on the chess calendar. Among the players are Americans Abhimanyu Mishra (the youngest player in history to become a Grandmaster) and Andy Woodward (this year’s winner of the Junior’s Closed US Championship) who had a spectacular run at the recent FIDE Grand Swiss in Samarkand, finishing 5th and 7th respectively. World Rapid Champion, 19-year-old Volodar Murzin, who is on the path of reaching 2700 ELO (currently at 2670), also got an invite, alongside 28-year-old Kirill Alekseenko (representing Austria), a participant of the 2020/21 Candidates tournament and a well-known player at strong individual and team events. The youngest joiner is 11-year-old Faustino Oro, the Argentinian prodigy often called the “Messi of Chess” and considered one of the most promising young talents in the game. “FIDE always works hard to find ways to give talented players a chance to improve and make their mark. The decision to award invites to these five players is based on a mix of recent performance, high-level potential and their contribution to the sport,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said. “The World Cup is one of the most difficult and most exciting chess events, given its knockout format, and will be a great opportunity for these players to show their best facing the best,” Dvorkovich added. There is one more invitation place to be decided before the World Cup starts in November. The FIDE World Cup takes place every two years, lasts for three weeks, and is one of the hardest chess tournaments to win. It features 206 top world players competing in a knock-out format consisting of mini-matches. At stakes are not just the title or the prizes but, crucially, three top spots leading to the Candidates tournament where the challenger for the title of World Champion will be determined.
FIDE World Cup 2025 heads to Goa, India
The FIDE World Cup 2025 is coming to Goa! From October 30 to November 27, 2025, the world’s top players will gather on India’s west coast for one of the most exciting chess events. This knockout spectacle brings together 206 players fighting for a share of USD 2,000,000 and three coveted places in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Every round is win-or-go-home, making the World Cup one of the most dramatic tournaments on the calendar. Why Goa? Goa’s stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and warm hospitality makes it an exciting backdrop for this global showdown. Players and fans will experience world-class chess alongside a destination famous for its energy and charm. India’s connection to chess runs deep, and in recent years the country has become a global force, producing top players and hosting significant tournaments. Last year, Gukesh Dommaraju became the World Champion, whilst Indian teams won the Chess Olympiad in both Open and Women categories. The momentum continued: this July, the Women’s World Cup saw a standout performance by Divya Deshmukh, who lifted the trophy and captured worldwide attention. Staging the Open World Cup in Goa builds on these successes and gives local fans an opportunity to watch their stars compete against the very best on home soil. Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President: “India has become one of the strongest chess nations, with outstanding players and passionate fans. After the success of the FIDE Women’s World Cup held in Georgia earlier this year, we are proud to bring the FIDE World Cup to Goa. It will be a celebration of chess, and a unique experience for players and spectators from around the world. The representatives of 90+ countries are expected to take part, and it will be one of the most followed events in chess history.” Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India: “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.” Nitin Narang, AICF President: “This is a proud moment for Indian chess, and we are committed to delivering an event that reflects both the passion of our fans and the professionalism of our federation. The World Cup will not only inspire millions across the country but also showcase India’s growing stature as a global hub for chess. We are deeply thankful to FIDE for granting India the honor of hosting the World Cup 2025 in Goa.” Key Details Dates: 31 October to 27 November 2025 Venue: Goa, India Players: 206 Format: Eight-round knockout Top 50 seeds enter from Round 2 Matches are two classical games, with rapid and blitz playoffs if tied Candidates spots: Top three finishers qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament List of qualified players: worldcup2025.fide.com/participants/ Regulations for FIDE World Cup 2025 (PDF) With Goa confirmed as the host city, anticipation is building for an unforgettable month of high-stakes chess. Stay tuned for more information. The countdown to the FIDE World Cup 2025 has officially begun!
FIDE World Cup 2025 to be hosted in India
The FIDE World Cup is coming to India this year! Scheduled for October 30 to November 27, 2025, the tournament will feature the world’s best players battling for the coveted title and qualification spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament. Format The FIDE World Cup 2025 will feature 206 players competing in a knockout format—a dynamic and unpredictable system where the losing player in each round is eliminated. The event has used several formats over the years, but since 2021, it has followed a single-elimination format. Each round spans three days: two classical games on the first two days, followed by tie-breaks on the third day, if necessary. In the first round, the top 50 players receive byes, while players seeded from 51 to 206 compete, with pairings based on the principle of the top half versus the reversed lower half. What’s at stake? The top three finishers of the 2025 World Cup will earn direct qualification for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship. Qualification Paths Players can qualify for the World Cup through various avenues, including: Reigning World Champion as of June 1, 2025 Top four finishers from the FIDE World Cup 2023 Reigning Women’s World Champion as of June 1, 2025 2024 World Junior Champion U-20 Spots Africa Americas Asia Europe Granted 3 3 3 3 Top 8 juniors 0 0 6 2 Top 60 players 0 9 26 25 Total 3 12 35 30 Qualifiers from Continental events, accounting for 80 spots The highest-rated players in the June 2025 FIDE standard rating list, 13 players, who have not qualified by any of the above listed path Top 100 national federations from the 2024 Chess Olympiad open section, each receiving one spot 4 nominees of the FIDE President 2 nominees of the Organiser Detailed information on qualification can be found in the official FIDE handbook. India: A chess powerhouse This year’s World Cup being held in India is particularly exciting. India has become a dominant force in the chess world, thanks in part to five-time World Champion and FIDE Deputy President Viswanathan Anand, whose efforts and legacy have been instrumental in popularizing chess in the country. India’s young stars include Gukesh Dommaraju, who became the youngest FIDE World Chess Champion at 18, Praggnanandhaa R, the runner-up of the 2023 World Cup, and Arjun Erigaisi, currently ranked world number five. In 2024, both the Indian Open and Women’s teams claimed their first-ever gold medals at the Chess Olympiad—a historic achievement further highlighted by four individual gold medals won by Gukesh, Erigaisi, Deshmukh, and Agrawal. Additionally, Koneru Humpy secured gold at the 2024 FIDE Women’s Rapid Championship, and Vaishali Rameshbabu earned bronze at the 2024 FIDE Women’s Blitz Championship. Photo: Stev Bonhage India has also recently hosted major events, including the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022, Tata Steel Chess India, the FIDE World Junior U20 Championships 2024, and the 5th leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (April 2025). These accomplishments underscore India’s status as a global chess hub, making it a fitting venue for the FIDE World Cup 2025. FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky expressed his excitement: “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. To enhance the experience, FIDE is committed to organizing numerous side events, featuring tournament participants and chess legends.” Further details, including the announcement of the host city, will be released in due course. FIDE looks forward to an exhilarating tournament that continues to celebrate and advance the game of chess worldwide. The list of qualified players: https://worldcup2025.fide.com/participants/