India not only ancient home of chess, but modern powerhouse as well: FIDE President

India not only ancient home of chess, but modern powerhouse as well: FIDE President

International Chess Federation (FIDE) president Arkady Dvorkovich on Monday hailed India as a ‘modern powerhouse’ in world chess, saying the upcoming FIDE World Cup is being held in Goa because the country has become a ‘central pillar in the global structure’ of the sport.

As many as 206 top players from 80 countries will compete in the prestigious tournament, scheduled from October 30 to November 27 in Goa. The event will see participants battle through a knockout format for a share of the USD 2 million prize fund and, more importantly, three qualification spots for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament — the pathway to the next World Championship match.

‘India is not just the ancient home of chess; it is a global modern powerhouse. This World Cup (in Goa) is being held here because India is now a central pillar in the global structure of our sport.

‘For the next four weeks, Goa will not just be a coastal paradise; it will be the Colosseum of chess. This is where legends are forged and broken, and new champions born — a process that has been dramatically enriched by the incredible new generation of Indian stars,’ Dvorkovich said in a statement.

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The World Cup will follow an eight-round, single-elimination format. Each match will consist of two classical games under standard time controls, with tied encounters decided by rapid and blitz tie-breaks on the third day.

The top 50 seeds — including many of the world’s highest-rated grandmasters — will receive byes into the second round, while the remaining 156 players begin their campaigns on November 1.

Reigning world champion and India’s own D. Gukesh said he was eager to play in front of home fans.

‘I’m really excited to play in the World Cup. Anywhere in India is great, of course, but I have some nice memories of Goa as I played some junior events there,’ said Gukesh, who is seeded straight into round two.

This marks the first time since 2002 that the FIDE World Cup returns to India. On that occasion, five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand defeated Rustam Kasimdzhanov in the two-game final held in Hyderabad.

More than two decades later, India boasts a young world champion in Gukesh, Olympiad team titles in both the Open and women’s sections, and Divya Deshmukh — the reigning Women’s World Cup winner and the only female participant in this year’s World Cup. Rising stars such as Arjun Erigaisi, R. Praggnanandhaa, and Nihal Sarin will also be in action.

Gukesh arrives in Goa on the back of a stellar 2927 performance at the European Team Championship, where he won gold and played a decisive role in his team’s triumph. Erigaisi, one of the most consistent elite players this year, will look to reaffirm his growing stature.

Among international contenders, Germany’s Vincent Keymer — world No. 4 on the live rating list — is expected to be a major threat after strong performances at the European Club Cup and European Team Championship.

Another top favourite is Anish Giri, the recent Samarkand Grand Swiss winner. Already qualified for the Candidates, Giri enters the World Cup in peak form and high on confidence.

‘I’m looking forward to playing the World Cup. It’s a great event and a lot of fun. I’ve played a lot of them, and I was actually very near to qualifying once,’ Giri said.

The American duo of Wesley So and Levon Aronian also feature among the leading contenders. So arrives in Goa after finishing second at the U.S. Championship, while 2017 World Cup winner Aronian has enjoyed a successful year, collecting multiple titles.

According to the latest FIDE rating list, 22 players are rated 2700 or higher, ensuring that the Goa World Cup will feature the absolute elite of global chess.