The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 was held in Goa, India, from 30 October to 27 November 2025, marking the return of the prestigious tournament to India after 23 years. The event was organized at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium, Taleigao, Goa, with matches played at the Resort Rio Convention Centre.The tournament featured 206 players from 82 countries competing in an eight-round knockout format with a total prize purse of US$ 2 million. Each match consisted of two classical games, followed by tie-breaks if necessary.Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the return of the Chess World Cup to India as a matter of pride, noting that India is the birthplace of Chaturanga, the precursor to modern chess. Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted India's rise from 10 Grandmasters in 2002 to 88 Grandmasters in 2025.
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 |
| Venue | Goa, India |
| Duration | 30 October – 27 November 2025 |
| Players | 206 |
| Countries | 82 |
| Format | Knockout (8 Rounds) |
| Match Format | Two Classical Games + Tie-breaks if required |
| Prize Purse | US$ 2 Million |
India fielded a record 24 participants, the highest representation in the tournament's history.Among the Indian contingent, Arjun Erigaisi emerged as the country's best performer. He became the only Indian player to reach Round 6 (Quarterfinals).
On 17 November 2025, Arjun Erigaisi faced Wei Yi of China in the quarterfinals. The first classical game ended in a draw after 31 moves, with both players demonstrating extremely high accuracy. Arjun played with the black pieces and achieved 99.5% accuracy, while Wei Yi scored 99% accuracy.Despite a strong campaign, Arjun was eventually eliminated by Wei Yi in the quarterfinal stage, making him the top Indian performer of the tournament.
| Rank among Indians | Player | Best Stage Reached |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arjun Erigaisi | Quarterfinals (Round 6) |
| 2 | Pentala Harikrishna | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Other Indian participants | Eliminated before Quarterfinals |
The third-place playoff was contested between Nodirbek Yakubboev and Andrey Esipenko.
| Player | Score |
|---|---|
| Andrey Esipenko | 2 |
| Nodirbek Yakubboev | 0 |
Andrey Esipenko secured the bronze medal by winning both games of the match.
The championship match featured Javokhir Sindarov (Uzbekistan) and Wei Yi (China).
| Player | Total Score |
|---|---|
| Javokhir Sindarov | 2½ |
| Wei Yi | 1½ |
After a closely fought contest, Javokhir Sindarov emerged victorious with a score of 2½–1½, becoming the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Champion.
| Position | Player | Federation |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Javokhir Sindarov | Uzbekistan |
| 2nd | Wei Yi | China |
| 3rd | Andrey Esipenko | FIDE |
| 4th | Nodirbek Yakubboev | Uzbekistan |