Reigning world champion D Gukesh will be the top seed in the FIDE World Cup, which is beginning in Goa from October 30, followed by compatriots Arjun Erigaisi and R Praggnanandhaa.
The tournament, which culminates on November 27, will see a collection of frontline stars, and Denmark's Anish Giri is seeded fourth. The event carries a hefty prize purse of US $2 million and will feature 206 participants from across the globe.
Apart from the attractive prizes on offer, the players will also vie for three spots in the 2026 Candidates Tournament. The top three finishers in Goa will earn direct spots in the Candidates.
USA's Wesley So is the fifth seed, followed by Vincent Keymer, Wei Yi, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Hans Niemann in that order.
This year, the men's World Cup is a separate event from the corresponding women's tournament, which was held in July and won by Divya Deshmukh. The victory earned her the grandmaster title and a place in the 2026 Women's Candidates.
Also read: FIDE World Cup coming to Goa
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