World Chess Champion D. Gukesh Eager to Return to Goa for FIDE World Cup 2025
Gukesh to Lead Indian Squad at Prestigious FIDE World Cup in Goa
Panaji, Oct 27 (TheTrendingPeople.com): World Chess Champion D. Gukesh is set to lead the Indian team at the FIDE World Cup 2025, which returns to India after a gap of 23 years. The event, to be hosted at a North Goa resort from October 31 to November 27, 2025, promises to be one of the most prestigious chess tournaments of the year — and holds deep sentimental value for the 19-year-old prodigy.
Gukesh, who became the youngest undisputed world champion in chess history earlier this year, is looking forward to revisiting Goa — a place that played an important role in shaping his early chess journey.
“I am really excited about the World Cup. Playing anywhere in India is great, and I have some great memories of Goa. I have played some junior events there. So, looking forward to being there,” said Gukesh, who enters the tournament as the top seed.
From Junior Contender to World Champion
The last time Gukesh competed in Goa was in 2019, when he took part in the Category A Goa International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, finishing tenth despite being seeded much lower at the time.
His return this year will be markedly different. Now, as the reigning world champion, Gukesh arrives in Goa not as an underdog but as the face of Indian chess — representing a new generation of homegrown champions who have redefined India’s global standing in the sport.
FIDE World Cup Returns to India After 23 Years
The 2025 edition of the FIDE World Cup marks a major moment for Indian chess. The last time India hosted the event was in 2002, when Hyderabad played host.
This year’s tournament will feature 206 players from 82 countries, all competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. The top three finishers will automatically qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship.
The event’s format will once again follow a knockout structure, known for producing dramatic encounters and career-defining moments.
Gukesh’s Path: Bye in First Round, Faces Nogerbek Next
As the tournament’s top seed, Gukesh has received a bye in the first round. In the second round, he is slated to face Kazybez Nogerbek of Kazakhstan — a rising star in Asian chess circles.
While Gukesh will be the player to beat, the field includes several elite competitors such as Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, who is among the top contenders for the USD 120,000 first prize.
Anish Giri Eyes Strong Finish in Goa
For Anish Giri, the 2025 World Cup offers a unique opportunity to compete without the weight of qualification pressure. The Dutch star has already secured his berth in the 2026 Candidates Tournament through the FIDE Grand Swiss earlier this year.
“The World Cup is a great event, and I am going to play it regardless. It’s fun to play it,” Giri said ahead of the tournament.
He also acknowledged the challenging nature of the event’s qualification format.
“It’s a very tricky qualification path, whichever is the format. I have played a lot of them (World Cup). Once I got very close to qualifying through the World Cup. I lost the semi-final to Peter Svidler (in 2015),” he recalled.
Giri, currently ranked among the top ten in the world, will be the highest-ranked foreign player participating in Goa.
Historic Context: FIDE World Cup’s Legacy
Since 2005, the FIDE World Cup has adopted a knockout format, which has become one of the most watched events in the chess calendar. The tournament has been instrumental in discovering new champions and testing the consistency of established ones.
Notably, only Viswanathan Anand of India and Levon Aronian of Armenia have managed to win the World Cup twice, underscoring the event’s intense competitiveness and prestige.
With the championship returning to Indian soil, the atmosphere in Goa is expected to be electric — combining the scenic beauty of the coastal state with the intellectual intensity of the world’s finest chess players.
India’s Golden Generation of Chess
The upcoming World Cup is also a celebration of India’s golden generation in chess, led by Gukesh, R Praggnanandhaa, Arjun Erigaisi, and Vidit Gujrathi — all of whom have broken into the world’s elite ranking within a short span.
For Gukesh, the Goa event represents not just a professional challenge but a personal milestone — a return to the roots of his journey before he conquered the world stage.
Final Thoughts
As the FIDE World Cup 2025 approaches, excitement is building in India’s chess community. For D. Gukesh, this isn’t just another tournament — it’s a homecoming, a chance to perform in front of Indian fans, and perhaps, another historic chapter in his already remarkable career.
Whether he lifts the trophy or not, one thing is certain — the coastal paradise of Goa will once again witness the brilliance of a champion who began his journey as a boy with a dream and a chessboard.