Panjim: The FIDE World Chess Cup trophy was named the Viswanathan Anand trophy on Friday, celebrating the achievements of the five-time world champion from India. The unveiling took place during an opening ceremony attended by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and FIDE chief Arkady Dvorkovich. “I am extremely proud and delighted to announce the Viswanathan Anand Cup, the FIDE World Cup (Open) Winner’s Running Trophy, established in honor of the King of Chess and India’s first Grandmaster, Shri Viswanathan Anand,” said All India Chess Federation (AICF) President Nitin Narang. He emphasized that this trophy symbolizes the significant progress of Indian chess and the remarkable legacy of @vishy64theking, which will be celebrated for generations to come.
The trophy’s design is majestic and deeply symbolic, featuring a peacock in a striking dance pose, evoking the enduring beauty of the game. World Women Chess Cup champion Divya Deshmukh conducted the draw of lots, with all odd-numbered players in round 1 assigned to play the black pieces. This tournament, with a prize pool of USD 2 million, includes 206 players from 80 countries, competing in eight knockout rounds of classical games. The FIDE World Cup 2025 will offer three spots to the Candidates Tournament 2026, leading to the next World Championship match. The event follows an eight-round, single-elimination format, where matches consist of two classical games played under standard time controls.
Should the score be tied, players will return on the third day for rapid and blitz tie-breaks to determine who progresses. The top 50 seeds, many of whom are among the highest-rated grandmasters globally, will receive byes into the second round, while the remaining 156 participants will commence their matches on November 1.
