World Cup for India to make its own

FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 begins

- Rutvick Mehta

Vidit Gujrathi summed up the unique amalgamation that is chess and the coastline of Goa. On his packing list, as he told FIDE, will be sunglasses, swimwear and, (but of course) a laptop.

Goa and its beaches are brimming with tourists at this time of the year and over the next month, it will host another large flock - for anything but a holiday.

From Saturday, in a five-star property minutes away from its most popular Baga beach, the FIDE World Cup will kick off with the first round. The tournament features 206 chess players from over 80 countries, with the host nation accounting for a little over one-tenth of that.

The last time India hosted a Chess World Cup, Viswanathan Anand was among the four Indians in a 24-player event played in a league-cum-knockout format. Anand went all the way in 2002 in Hyderabad.

In Goa, where this World Cup's trophy was named after the Indian legend on Friday, there will be a flock of 24 Indians in an eight-round knockout system.

It not only reflects the shift of formats in the sport, but also the growth of chess in the country.

"India has excellent representation at all levels," said GM Srinath Narayanan.