The 2025 Chess World Cup at Resort Rio in Goa concluded with Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov defeating China’s Wei Yi in a gripping final. While the tournament delivered drama and upsets, it turned into a major disappointment for the host nation, with no Indian player reaching the semifinals despite heavy investment in the country’s top grandmasters.
Arjun Erigaisi was the only Indian who showed consistency, cruising into the quarterfinals before falling to Wei Yi. His exit stung even more because he needed a top-three finish to qualify for next year’s Candidates Tournament. With that opportunity gone, Arjun will miss the chance to challenge D Gukesh for the next world title cycle.
Gukesh himself had another lacklustre outing, continuing a trend of subdued performances since becoming the youngest-ever world champion. Despite a notable win over Magnus Carlsen earlier in the year, his form has dipped sharply, and he now sits at World No. 10. R Praggnanandhaa also struggled, though he remains in contention for the final Candidates spot via the FIDE Circuit.
Among the Indian contingent, V Pranav stood out with an impressive run to the fourth round, reaffirming his promise as the reigning World Junior Champion. Equally memorable was Diptayan Ghosh’s stunning second-round victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi — a match that will be remembered for the Russian star’s dramatic meltdown.