Flagbearers! Indian FIDE World Cup Hopes Pinned On Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa

Last Updated:October 31, 2025, 13:38 IST

The tournament, slated to be held in Goa, offers three qualification spots for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, the pathway to the World Championship match next year.

D Gukesh is the youngest world champion in chess (PTI Photo)

Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa and World Champion D Gukesh are set to headline the FIDE World Cup slated to begin on Saturday, in a strong field that excludes the top-three ranked players globally. With Norway’s Magnus Carlsen and the American duo of Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana not participating, Arjun Erigaisi are other significant contenders aiming to shine in this prestigious event, which boasts a USD two million prize fund.

The tournament is crucial as it offers three qualification spots for the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament, the pathway to the World Championship match next year. A total of 206 top chess players from 80 countries will gather in Goa for four weeks, engaging in the eight-round, single-elimination knockout event. Each match comprises two classical games under standard time controls. If the score is tied after the classical games, players will face rapid and blitz tie-breaks on the third day to determine the winner.

For the three top Indian players, the stakes vary. Gukesh, as world champion, does not need to qualify through the Candidates cycle for the World Championship next year. Praggnanandhaa is almost certain to secure a spot in the next Candidates tournament, while Erigaisi is striving for a place in the tournament early next year to challenge Gukesh in the next World Championship match.

With three seats available for the Candidates tournament, experienced players Vidit Gujrathi and Pentala Harikrishna have significant chances of qualifying. Additionally, young talents Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram are strong contenders in the event, which features 24 Indian participants for the first time.

The top-50 ranked players have direct entry into the second round, while the remaining 156 will start from the first round. From these, 78 players will advance to join the top-50, forming a 128-player pool from the second round. Each match comprises two classical games, and in the event of a tie, shorter duration tie-break games will decide the winner.

Indian players have recently enjoyed considerable success, including winning the Olympiad in both Open and Women’s sections, Gukesh clinching the World Championship title, and Divya Deshmukh winning the Women’s World Cup. This event is a prime opportunity for homegrown players to showcase their skills.

However, international talent will also be strong. Notable participants include Dutchman Anish Giri, who qualified for the Candidates tournament by winning the last Grand Swiss, Germany’s Vincent Keymer who has found his form, and Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov, who is known for his impressive track record, especially in faster versions of the game.

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