New Delhi will be the host city for the FIDE World Cup happening from October 31 to November 27 this year, as confirmed by officials from the All India Chess Federation (AICF). The event is set to take place at either Bharat Mandapam or Yashobhoomi.
This World Cup is a significant tournament for India’s top chess players, including Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi. The top three finishers will earn a spot in the prestigious Candidates tournament, which ultimately determines who will challenge Gukesh for the World Chess Championship title in 2026. In the previous World Cup, Praggnanandhaa made an impressive run to the finals, defeating chess giants like Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana, before facing Magnus Carlsen, where he finished as a runner-up.
The AICF is also planning to bid for the 2026 World Championship, where Gukesh will defend his title. An official stated, “We proposed to the government to host the World Cup in Delhi and have received the necessary approvals. We are confident in our venue options.”
In recent years, New Delhi and Chennai competed to host the 2024 World Championship. However, Singapore was selected over both cities. While Yashobhoomi was presented as a venue at that time, Bharat Mandapam successfully hosted the G20 Leaders Summit in 2023, displaying its capability to host significant events.
The FIDE World Cup will feature 206 players, making it a highly competitive event. Each match is intense, played in a knockout format over eight rounds, with the top 50 seeds entering from the second round. In each match, players compete in two classical games, alternating colors. If those games end in a tie, tiebreak matches decide the winner.
In addition to the World Cup, India will also host a Women’s Grand Prix event in Pune, further highlighting the country’s growing status in the chess world.
Source link
FIDE World Cup, FIDE World Cup in New Delhi, FIDE World Cup news, FIDE World Cup update, FIDE World Cup in India, FIDE World Cup venue, Chess news, chess tournament