D Gukesh (Norway Chess via PTI Photo) World chess champion D Gukesh anticipates his return to Goa for the FIDE World Cup starting Friday, where he previously competed in his early career.The prestigious FIDE World Cup makes its return to India after 23 years. The tournament will be hosted at a North Goa resort from October 31 to November 27, 2025, featuring a USD 2 million prize fund.”I am really excited about the World Cup. Playing anywhere in India is great and I have some great memories of Goa. I have played some junior events there. So, looking forward to being there,” said Gukesh, who enters as the top seed.The 19-year-old champion’s last Goa appearance was in 2019, where he secured tenth place in the Category ‘A’ Goa International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament, exceeding his initial seeding position.Gukesh now returns to the coastal state as the world champion, with Goa being recognised as one of India’s premier sporting and tourist destinations.The knockout tournament will feature 206 players from 82 countries. The top three finishers will qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Gukesh, who received a first-round bye, is expected to face Kazakhstan’s Kazybek Nogerbek in round two. Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, the highest-ranked foreign player, aims to claim the winner’s prize of USD 120,000.By winning the Grand Swiss, Giri has already secured his place in the Candidates 2026, which determines Gukesh’s next World Championships challenger.”The World Cup it’s a great event and I am going to play it regardless. It’s fun to play it,” said Giri.”It’s a very tricky qualification path, whichever is the format. I have played a lot of them (World Cup). Once I got very close to qualifying through the world cup. I lost the semi-final to Peter Svidler (in 2015),” Giri added.The FIDE World Cup has maintained its knockout format since 2005. Only India’s Viswanathan Anand and Armenia’s Levon Aronian have achieved the distinction of winning the title twice in the tournament’s history.
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