A.R. Ilamparthi – India’s 90th Chess Grandmaster
Achievement: Became India’s 90th Grandmaster (GM)
Event: Bijeljina Tournament, Bosnia and Herzegovina
(89th chess grandmaster of India is S. Rohith Krishna)
Path to Grandmaster Title
To become a Grandmaster (GM), a player must:
Achieve three GM norms, and
Cross the 2500 Elo rating at least once (as per FIDE norms).
Key Facts
In women’s chess: Divya Deshmukh achieved a historic victory by winning the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 in Batumi, Georgia. She defeated country-woman Koneru Humpy in the final.
At 19 years of age, she became the fourth Indian woman to achieve the Grandmaster (GM) title, and India’s overall 88th GM.
Her win also qualifies her for the Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026
Details:
Event: FIDE World Cup 2025
Venue: Goa, India.
Significance:
First time India is hosting a FIDE World Cup, one of the most prestigious knockout chess tournaments.
Around 24 Indian players (men and women combined) are participating — the largest Indian contingent ever.
The tournament acts as a qualifier for the FIDE Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship.
Indian Participation
Total Indians: 24 (largest ever from a single nation)
Top 3 seeds (all Indians):
D. Gukesh – Current World Champion, Top seed
Arjun Erigaisi
R. Praggnanandhaa
Women participant:
Divya Deshmukh – Only woman in the field.
Winner of Women’s World Cup 2025.
Accepted a wildcard entry after Ju Wenjun and Hou Yifan withdrew.
Magnus Carlsen, the defending champion, has opted out.
Significance
One of the major international chess tournaments organised by FIDE.
Held biennially (every two years).
Unlike in some sports where the World Cup is usually the biggest tournament, Chess World Cup ranks below Candidates and the World Championship
Serves as a qualifier for the Candidates Tournament, which in turn determines the challenger for the World Chess Championship.
Top 3 finishers qualify for the Candidates Tournament.
India’s hosting marks its first-ever FIDE World Cup (after hosting the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, 2022).
Earlier Major Chess Events Hosted by India:
Year | Event | Venue |
2022 | 44th FIDE Chess Olympiad | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
2023 | FIDE Grand Prix (Online Hybrid) | Organised by AICF |
2025 | FIDE World Cup | Goa |
Prelims Practice MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding the FIDE Chess World Cup 2025:
It is the first time India is hosting the FIDE Chess World Cup.
The tournament is held annually.
The top three players from the World Cup qualify for the Candidates Tournament.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Chess World Cup is held biennially, not annually.
Q. Which of the following statements about India’s participation in the FIDE World Cup 2025 is/are correct?
D. Gukesh is the current world champion and top seed.
Divya Deshmukh is the only woman player from India in the tournament.
Magnus Carlsen will defend his title in Goa.
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: (a)