Get ready for some electrifying chess action! The Chess World Cup is set to kick off in Goa on November 1st, promising a lineup of truly captivating matches. What’s more, we might even see some thrilling all-Indian contests unfold!
India’s top seed, D. Gukesh, is poised to begin his journey. He could face R. Raja Rithvik in his opening match, provided Rithvik successfully navigates his first-round challenge against Kazakhstan’s Kazybek Nogerbek. Gukesh, the reigning World Champion from Chennai, is among the 50 elite players who have earned a direct spot in the second round.
Other formidable Indian talents joining the second round include Arjun Erigaisi (second seed), R. Praggnanandhaa (third seed), Vidit Gujrathi, P. Harikrishna, Aravindh Chithambaram, and Nihal Sarin. Intriguingly, Nihal Sarin could potentially clash with Divya Deshmukh, the current women’s World Cup champion. However, Divya first faces a tough challenge against a higher-rated opponent, Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis of Greece.
Players such as S.L. Narayanan, Karthikeyan Murali, Raunak Sadhwani, V. Pranav, and Pa. Iniyan are also among the notable Indian participants who will compete in the fiercely contested first round.
This year’s World Cup is a monumental event in the global chess calendar, and it’s a rare occasion for India, which is hosting it for only the second time in over two decades. The last time this prestigious tournament graced Indian soil was in Hyderabad.
The tournament will feature a star-studded roster, with grandmasters like Anish Giri, Wesley So, Vincent Keymer, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wei Yi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Nordibek Abdusattorov all set to showcase their incredible skills in Goa.