Goa, November 5, 2025 — India’s top chess prodigies, D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, continued their strong performance in the FIDE World Cup 2025, leading the national contingent into Round 2 of the prestigious tournament being held in Goa.
Gukesh secured a convincing win over Kazakhstan’s Kazybek Nogerbek in Game 2, advancing to the next round, while Praggnanandhaa held Temur Kuybokarov to a draw, keeping his hopes alive for progression via tiebreaks.
The tournament, hosted at Resort Rio Convention Centre in North Goa, marks the return of the FIDE World Cup to India after 23 years. It features 206 players from 82 countries competing in a knockout format for a prize pool of USD 2 million.
India has fielded 17 players in Round 2, including Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, Pentala Harikrishna, and Diptayan Ghosh, who stunned former World Championship challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi in a major upset.
While Gukesh has already qualified for the 2026 Candidates Tournament as reigning World Champion, his participation adds momentum and prestige to India’s campaign. The performances of young talents reflect India’s growing dominance in global chess.
