IMAGE: The FIDE World Cup Chess Cup Trophy was renamed as the Viswanathan Anand Trophy. Photograph: Nitin Narang/X
The new trophy of the FIDE World Chess Cup was on Friday christened as the Viswanathan Anand trophy, in honour of the five-time World champion Indian legend.
The trophy, made of brass and gold-plated, was unveiled during a colourful opening ceremony in Panjim, which was attended by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich.
The rolling trophy will be passed on to future champions of the FIDE World Cup.
After a colourful ceremony which showcased Goa’s rich culture, and the ‘Spirit and Story of Chess’, the tournament was officially declared open by Prime Minister Narendra Modi through a letter read out by All India Chess Federation president Nitin Narang.
“…As the Chess World Cup returns to the ‘home of chess’, it feels as though the game has come full circle. India’s growing role as a host to major international sporting events continues and augurs well for both India and the world. I declare the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025 open,” the PM said in his message.
The US$ 2 million prize money tournament, commencing Saturday, will feature 206 players from 82 countries vying for the coveted title and three spots for Candidates 2026 — the gateway to the next World Championship match.
World Women Chess Cup title holder Divya Deshmukh performed the draw of colours ceremony for the players in Round 1.
Since she picked black for number one player, India’s D Gukesh, all odd number players will begin with black pieces in their matches on Saturday.
“The last time India hosted the FIDE World Cup we had less than 10 Grandmasters. Now we have 90 and India holds the Olympiad titles in both open and women category and the
Women’s World Cup title won by Divya Deshmukh,” Mandaviya said while addressing the gathering.
“India has come a long way in these 23 years and I am confident that hosting this world cup will only help us produce more champions in the future.”
AICF chief Narang said he’s extremely proud and delighted to announce the Viswanathan Anand Cup, the FIDE World Cup (Open) Winner’s Running Trophy, instituted in honour of the “King of Chess and India’s first Grandmaster, Shri Viswanathan Anand”.
The World Cup will be an eight-round, single-elimination knockout event, where each match consists of two classical games played under standard time controls.
If the score is tied after those, the players return on the third day for a series of rapid and blitz tie-breaks to decide who advances.
The top 50 seeds — comprising many of the world’s highest-rated Grandmasters — receive byes into the second round, while the remaining 156 competitors begin their campaigns on November 1.
Reigning World champion, India’s D Gukesh, has been seeded straight into round two.
According to the tournament format, the top 50 players have received a bye in the opening round.
Turkey’s GM Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus will be the highest ranked player in the opening round and will take on the lowest-ranked player in the tournament, CM Nagi Abugenda of Libya.
Among the Indians, reigning world junior champion Pranav V will be the highest rated player in action in Round 1.
He will face Ala Eddine Boulrens of Algeria.
Top seed and world champion D Gukesh, second seed Arjun Erigaisi, last edition runner-up R Praggnanandhaa will only be seen in action from November 4.
This is the first time since 2002 that the FIDE World Cup is being held in India.
On that occasion, Anand had defeated Rustam Kasimdzhanov in the two-game final in Hyderabad.
More than two decades later, India boast of a young world champion in Gukesh, Olympiad team titles in both the Open and women’s sections, and Divya Deshmukh, the current Women’s World Cup winner and the only female participant in this year’s World Cup.
