New Delhi: Reigning world champion D Gukesh will lead the field as the top seed at the FIDE World Cup 2025, scheduled to kick off in Goa on October 30. Close behind him are fellow Indians Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa, who occupy the next two seedings in an all-Indian dominance at the top.

The prestigious tournament, concluding on November 27, boasts a prize pool of USD 2 million and will feature 206 players from around the world, including several elite names. Denmark’s Anish Giri holds the fourth seed, while the USA’s Wesley So follows in fifth place. Vincent Keymer, Wei Yi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and Hans Niemann complete the top ten seed list.

Beyond the lucrative rewards, the participants will battle for three qualifying spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament, with the top three finishers in Goa earning direct entry.

This year’s men’s edition is being conducted separately from the women’s World Cup, which took place in July 2025 and was won by Divya Deshmukh. Her victory not only secured her grandmaster title but also a berth in the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament.

With inputs from PTI