India is all set to host the prestigious FIDE Chess World Cup for the first time in over two decades, with the tournament officially scheduled to run from October 30 to November 27, 2025, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed on Monday, July 21.
This will mark India’s first hosting of the World Cup since the 2002 edition in Hyderabad. The highly anticipated event will bring together 206 players from across the globe in a knockout format, with elimination after each round.
The tournament will consist of eight rounds, with each round featuring two classical games. Players will have 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by an additional 30 minutes for the remainder of the game, along with a 30-second increment per move from the start.
The format, introduced in 2021, includes three-day rounds: two days for classical games and a third day for tie-breaks, if necessary. Notably, the top 50 seeded players receive first-round byes, while seeds 51 to 206 compete from the opening round. Pairings follow a top-half vs. bottom-half structure.
India has emerged as a prominent hub for international chess in recent years, having successfully hosted the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2022, Tata Steel Chess India, the FIDE World Junior U20 Championships 2024, and the 5th leg of the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix earlier this year in April.
The return of the World Cup to Indian soil after 23 years underscores the country’s growing stature in the global chess community.
