FIDE Chess World Cup 2025: Updated schedule, format, prize money, live streaming details

World Champion D Gukesh enters the tournament as the top seed.

The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 is set to be one of the most prestigious events in the chess calendar, featuring 206 of the world’s top players competing in Goa, India.

This knockout tournament will not only crown a World Cup champion but will also determine three crucial qualification spots for the Candidates Tournament 2026, which decides the challenger for the next World Championship.

The chess world has witnessed thrilling performances across various elite tournaments in recent months, and now all attention shifts to India as it hosts the 11th edition of the Chess World Cup.

With World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju leading a strong contingent of Indian players and top international stars competing for glory, this promises to be a month-long chess spectacle that will captivate fans worldwide.

Here’s everything you need to know about the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025:

When and where will FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 take place?

The World Cup is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 27 at Resort Rio, located in Arpora, Bardez, North Goa, India. The picturesque venue in North Goa will host nearly four weeks of intense chess competition as 206 players battle through eight rounds of knockout matches.

What is the format of FIDE Chess World Cup 2025?

The tournament will follow an eight-round single-elimination knockout format. The top 50 seeds have received a bye directly into the second round, while the remaining 156 players will compete in the opening round.

Each match will consist of two classical games over the first two days, with a potential third day reserved for rapid tiebreak games if needed.

The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 additional minutes for the remainder of the game, plus a 30-second increment per move starting from move one.

Also Read: Full FIDE World Cup 2025 format explainer here

Top players to watch

The tournament features an exceptional lineup of 206 players from across the globe. The top six seeds are:

1. GM Gukesh Dommaraju (IND), 2752 – World Champion
2. GM Arjun Erigaisi (IND), 2773
3. GM R Praggnanandhaa (IND), 2771
4. GM Anish Giri (NED), 2759
5. GM Wesley So (USA), 2756
6. GM Vincent Keymer (GER), 2755

Other headline participants include Ian Nepomniachtchi, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Levon Aronian, and Vidit Gujrathi.

Notable withdrawals include Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Alireza Firouzja, and legendary Indian grandmaster Viswanathan Anand, who were replaced by other top players through the qualification system.

Also Read: How the FIDE World Cup transformed the path to chess greatness

Indian contingent

India boasts an impressive 26-player contingent at the World Cup. Key Indian players include:

• Gukesh Dommaraju (Seed 1)
• Arjun Erigaisi (Seed 2)
• R Praggnanandhaa (Seed 3)
• Vidit Gujrathi (Seed 19)
• Nihal Sarin (Seed 22)
• Pentala Harikrishna (Seed 24)
• Divya Deshmukh (Seed 150) – India’s sole female representative

This strong showing reflects India’s growing dominance in world chess.

What’s at stake?

The top three finishers—winner, runner-up, and third-place finisher—will earn qualification spots for the Candidates Tournament 2026, making every match critically important for players with world championship ambitions.

Prize money

The tournament features a total prize fund of US $2,000,000. The winner will receive $120,000, while the runner-up will get $85,000, and third place will earn $60,000. All participants are guaranteed prize money, with first-round losers receiving $3,500.

Also Read: ‘Excited’ D Gukesh to lead India’s challenge at FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa

Where and how to watch live telecast and live streaming of FIDE Chess World Cup 2025?

Fans can watch the tournament on FIDE’s official YouTube channel, Chess.com, Chess24, and the official FIDE website.

Full broadcast details here

Full schedule of FIDE Chess World Cup 2025

Matches will begin at 3:00 pm IST everyday

• Round 1- Nov 1-3
• Round 2 – Nov 4-6
• Round 3 – Nov 7-9
• Round 4 – Nov 11-13
• Round 5 – Nov 14-16
• Quarterfinals – Nov 17-19
• Semifinals – Nov 21-23
• Finals – Nov 24-26

Each round lasts three days: two for classical games and a third for tiebreaks if necessary.

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