A total of 24 Indian players are taking part in the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 in Goa — the highest number ever from India. This strong line-up includes top grandmasters, rising young players, and the current Women’s World Cup champion from India. All of them will be competing for a place in the prestigious next stage of the tournament.
FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Date, Time & Venue
The FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 will be held at Resort Rio in North Goa, India, from October 31 to November 27, 2025. All matches will begin at 3:00 PM IST every day. The tournament schedule includes daily rounds, designated rest days, and tie-break matches when needed. The opening ceremony will take place on October 31, 2025, and the closing ceremony is scheduled for November 26, 2025.
FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 Schedule
- Round 1: Nov 1–2 (Classical) | Nov 3 (Tiebreaks)
- Round 2: Nov 4–5 (Classical) | Nov 6 (Tiebreaks)
- Round 3: Nov 7–8 (Classical) | Nov 9 (Tiebreaks)
- Round 4: Nov 11–12 (Classical) | Nov 13 (Tiebreaks)
- Round 5: Nov 14–15 (Classical) | Nov 16 (Tiebreaks)
- Quarterfinals: Nov 17–18 (Classical) | Nov 19 (Tiebreaks)
- Semi-finals: Nov 21–22 (Classical) | Nov 23 (Tiebreaks)
- Final & 3rd-Place Match: Nov 24–25 (Classical) | Nov 26 (Tiebreaks)
Match Time: 3:00 PM IST daily
Top Indian Players at the World Cup
D. Gukesh: The current World Chess Champion and top seed in the tournament. Because of his high ranking, he starts directly from the second round.
Arjun Erigaisi: Ranked World No. 6 and seeded second. Like Gukesh, he also gets a bye in the first round.
R. Praggnanandhaa: The third seed and one of India’s biggest medal hopes. He also skips the first round.
Vidit Gujrathi: Seeded 19th and an experienced and strong contender.
Pentala Harikrishna: A highly experienced player, seeded 24th in the event.
Nihal Sarin: One of the most consistent and talented young Indian players in world chess.
Divya Deshmukh: The defending Women’s World Cup champion and the only woman representing India this year. She is participating through a wild-card entry.
Complete List of Indian Players in FIDE Chess World Cup 2025
- Arjun Erigaisi
- D. Gukesh
- R. Praggnanandhaa
- Vidit Santosh Gujrathi
- Aravindh Chithambaram VR
- Nihal Sarin
- Pentala Harikrishna
- Karthikeyan Murali
- Pranav Venkatesh
- Raunak Sadhwani
- Pranesh M
- Leon Luke Mendonca
- S. L. Narayanan
- Iniyan P
- Karthik Venkataraman
- Diptayan Ghosh
- Surya Shekhar Ganguly
- Raja Rithvik R
- Lalit Rohit
- S. L. Narayanan (duplicate in the original list)
- G. B. Harshavardhan
- Neelash Saha
- Himal Gusain
- Divya Deshmukh (only female participant)
Indian Top 3 Favorites Players in FIDE Rating
Why Gukesh D is a Favourite
Gukesh is the current World Chess Champion and the top-ranked player in this World Cup.
He had an incredible 2024–2025 season — becoming the youngest world champion and defeating top players, including Magnus Carlsen.
Because of his consistent results at the highest level, he is now India’s top-rated player going into this event.
Why R Praggnanandhaa is a Favourite
Praggnanandhaa is ranked World No. 3 and is the third seed in this tournament. He is known for performing well under pressure, especially in knockout competitions.
He finished as the runner-up in the 2023 World Cup, beating several top players and qualifying for the Candidates Tournament.
His rapid growth, confidence, and fighting mindset make him one of the top contenders and a fan favourite.
Why Arjun Erigaisi is a Favourite
Arjun is currently World No. 6 and the second seed in this World Cup — proof of how fast he has risen in world chess.
He consistently delivers strong results against elite grandmasters and has won several major tournaments.
His sharp, aggressive style and ability to handle big-match situations make him another strong favourite from India.