Why in News?
Divya Deshmukh, 19, became the first Indian woman to win the FIDE Women’s Chess World Cup, defeating Koneru Humpy in the final at Batumi, Georgia. She also became India’s 88th Grandmaster and qualified for the Candidates Tournament.
Description:
Key Features of the FIDE World Cup 2025:
| Parameter | Details |
| Organizer | FIDE (International Chess Federation) |
| Host Country | India (first time for FIDE World Cup) |
| Dates | 30 October – 27 November 2025 |
| Format | Knockout (Single-elimination) |
| Total Players | 206 |
| Rounds | Each round = 2 classical games + tie-breaks on day 3 (if needed) |
| First Round Byes | Top 50 seeded players skip Round 1 |
| Match Pairing | Top half of rankings face reversed lower half |
Pathways to 2026 Candidates Tournament:
Top 3 finishers from the World Cup 2025 qualify for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the next challenger for the World Chess Championship.
Other Qualifiers for Candidates 2026:
- Reigning World Champion
- Top 4 from World Cup 2023
- Women’s World Champion
- World Junior (U-20) Champion 2024
- Winners of Continental Championships
- Highest-rated players as per FIDE (June 2025)
India’s Role in Global Chess:
- Viswanathan Anand: 5-time World Champion, now FIDE Deputy President
- Gukesh Dommaraju: Won FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 at age 18 (youngest ever)
- Defeated Ding Liren (China) in 14-game classical match in Singapore
- Praggnanandhaa R: Runner-up, FIDE World Cup 2023
- India’s Olympic Double Gold (2024): First time ever, both Open and Women’s teams won gold
India’s Recent Chess Events Hosted:
| Event Name | Year | Significance |
| FIDE Chess Olympiad | 2022 | Held in Mamallapuram, major success |
| FIDE World Junior U20 | 2024 | Hosted successfully in India |
| Tata Steel Chess India | Ongoing | Premier annual global chess event |
| FIDE Women’s Grand Prix | 2025 | Promotes women’s chess globally |
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