The FIDE World Cup 2025 is one of the biggest chess tournaments in the world. It also helps decide which players will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament — the event that chooses who will challenge for the World Chess Championship.
FIDE World Cup Event 2025
Event: FIDE World Cup 2025
Schedule: 31 October to 27 November 2025
Location: Resort Rio, Goa, India
Hosted by: Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE)
Participants: 206 chess players from around the world
Total Prize Money: 2 million USD
Champion Title: The top 3 players qualify directly for the 2026 Candidates Tournament.
FIDE Tournament Format
The FIDE World Cup 2025 will have an eight-round knockout format. Each match features two classical games.
Classical time control:
- 90 minutes for the first 40 moves
- 30 extra minutes added afterward
- 30 seconds added per move starting from the first move
If the match ends in a tie after the classical games, players move to faster tie-break rounds:
- Two rapid games (25 minutes + 10 seconds per move)
- Two quicker rapid games (10 minutes + 10 seconds per move)
- Up to four blitz games (5 minutes + 3 seconds per move)
If the score is still even, one final Armageddon game is played — White gets more time but must win, while Black moves forward if the game ends in a draw.
FIDE: Rounds and Progression
- The top 50 seeded players start directly from Round 2.
- The remaining 156 players compete in Round 1.
- Each round runs for three days — two days for classical games and one day for possible tie-breaks.
- The two semifinal losers face each other in a separate match to decide third place, which determines the final qualifier for the Candidates Tournament.
FIDE World Cup 2025 Schedule
The tournament starts with Round 1, where players ranked 51 to 206 compete. Each match has two classical games over two days. If the score is tied, a third day is used for tie-breaks with faster games like rapid or blitz.
Nov 4 – 9: Round 2
Winners from Round 1 join the top 50 seeds who skipped the first round. Matches follow the same format — two classical games, plus tie-breaks if needed. This round lasts six days to fit all matches and possible tie-breaks.
Nov 10: Rest Day
A day off for players to rest and recharge before the next rounds.
Nov 11 – 19: Rounds 3–6
The middle rounds of the tournament. Players face tougher opponents in knockout matches. Each round usually takes three days — two for classical games and one for tie-breaks. These nine days cover multiple elimination rounds.
Nov 20: Rest Day
Another day to relax and prepare for the final rounds.
Nov 21 – 26: Semifinals & Final
The semifinals and final take place. Matches follow the usual format — two classical games plus tie-breaks if needed. Semifinals decide who goes to the final and who plays the third-place match, which decides the last qualifier for the Candidates Tournament. The final determines the World Cup champion.
Nov 27: Closing Ceremony
The tournament ends with a closing ceremony, celebrating the players, awarding prizes, and wrapping up
Explain: Qualification Path for Players
Continental Championships: Top players from each continent — Africa, Americas, Asia, and Europe — qualify based on their performance in their respective continental events.
World Junior Championship: The best performers from the World Junior Championship also get a place in the tournament.
FIDE Ratings and Wildcards: Some players qualify based on their FIDE rating, ensuring top-rated players are included. Additionally, FIDE can award wildcards to select players.
National Nominations: Certain players are nominated by their national federations, giving countries the chance to send representatives to the World Cup.
FIDE World Cup 2025 – Prize Distribution (Total USD 2,000,000)
- Winner: $120,000
- Runner-up: $85,000
- 3rd Place: $60,000
- 4th Place: $50,000
- Semi-finalists (2 players): $35,000 each – Total $140,000
- Quarterfinalists (8 players): $25,000 each – Total $200,000
- Round of 16 (16 players): $17,000 each – Total $272,000
- Round of 32 (32 players): $11,000 each – Total $352,000
- Round of 64 (64 players): $7,000 each – Total $448,000
- Round of 128 (78 players): $3,500 each – Total $273,000
Total Prize Fund: $2,000,000