Reigning World Champion D Gukesh Eager to Compete in Goa's FIDE World Cup

In 2025, the FIDE World Cup, one of the most significant events on the global chess calendar, is set to return to India after a 23-year hiatus. The prestigious tournament will be held in Goa, a venue that holds fond memories for 19-year-old world champion D Gukesh, who is looking forward to competing in the event.

The FIDE World Cup, which will take place from October 31 to November 27, 2025, will offer a total prize fund of $2 million. A field of 206 players from 82 countries will compete in the knockout-format event, with the top three finishers qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which will determine the challenger for Gukesh in the next World Championships cycle.

Gukesh, who will start as the top seed, last competed in Goa in 2019, finishing 10th in the Category Goa International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament despite being seeded much lower at the start. Now, as the reigning world champion, Gukesh hopes to make it another memorable trip to the coastal state, regarded as one of India's top sporting and tourist destinations.

Another top player looking forward to the event is Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, who has already secured his spot in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Giri, the highest-ranked foreign player in the competition, will have a little less pressure going into the tournament, as he aims to pocket the winner's purse of $120,000.