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FIDE World Cup 2025 to be Held in India

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The 2025 FIDE World Cup is set to take place in India this year, from October 30 to November 27, with 206 of the world's top Grandmasters competing for the championship title. The event will serve as a qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, with the top three finishers securing a direct qualification berth. The tournament will feature a single-elimination format, with each round lasting three days, and the best-of-three-game format for each match. The current World Champion, D Gukesh, will face the winner of the Candidates Tournament in a challenge for the World Chess Championship title.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FIDE World Cup 2025 will feature 206 of the world's top Grandmasters competing in a knockout format.
  • The tournament will be held in India from October 30 to November 27, with the first round seeing the top-50 players receive byes.
  • The top-three finishers will secure a direct qualification berth at the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
  • The tournament will feature a single-elimination format, with each round lasting three days, and the best-of-three-game format for each match.
  • D Gukesh, the current World Champion, will face the winner of the Candidates Tournament in a challenge for the World Chess Championship title.
  • The qualification criteria for the FIDE World Cup includes the reigning World Champion, top-four finishers from the FIDE World Cup 2023, and qualifiers from continental events.
  • The tournament will be organized by FIDE, with numerous side events featuring tournament participants and chess legends.

Statistics:

  • 206 Grandmasters will participate in the FIDE World Cup 2025.
  • The tournament will be held in India from October 30 to November 27.
  • 13 highest-rated players in the June 2025 FIDE standard rating list, who have not qualified by any other criteria, will participate in the tournament.
  • 80 spots will be allocated to qualifiers from continental events.
  • The top 100 national federations from the 2024 Chess Olympiad open section will each receive a spot in the tournament.
  • The FIDE President has four nominees and two nominees for the organizer.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, July 21.
  • FIDE press release.

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