India to Host FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 from October 30 to November 27

New Delhi: India has been officially confirmed as the host of the prestigious FIDE Chess World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 27, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced on Monday. The host city is expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.

The tournament will feature 206 of the world’s top players competing in a high-stakes knockout format, with the top three finishers earning direct qualification to the 2026 Candidates Tournament — the gateway to the World Chess Championship.

“The prestigious FIDE World Cup is coming to India this year! Scheduled for October 30 to November 27, 2025, the tournament will feature the world’s best players battling for the coveted title and qualification spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament,” FIDE stated. It also confirmed that more details, including the host city, will be shared soon.

India’s selection as the host continues its growing reputation as a global chess hub, having recently organized several major events such as the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022, Tata Steel Chess India, FIDE World Junior U20 Championships 2024, and the 5th leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix (April 2025).

The 2025 World Cup will continue with the single-elimination format introduced in 2021. Each round will last three days — two for classical games, followed by tie-breaks if needed. The top 50 seeded players will receive first-round byes, while the remaining 156 will compete based on a seeding system that pairs the top half against the reversed lower half.

Expressing excitement over the announcement, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said, “We are thrilled to bring the FIDE World Cup 2025 to India, a country with a deep-rooted passion and support for chess. Indian chess fans’ enthusiasm has always been remarkable, and we anticipate great interest in the event, both on-site and online.”

Sutovsky also revealed plans for several side events and fan engagements, including interactions with participating grandmasters and chess legends, aiming to make the tournament an immersive experience for fans and players alike.