Delhi Checkmated by Pollution, Goa Wins Chess World Cup 2025

India Today

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00:00World Champion is...

00:02Gukes! Gukes! Gukes! Gukes!

00:08Chess World Cup 2025 is going to happen in Goa.

00:11Goa outplayed Delhi and pollution was a decisive factor.

00:14In March 2025, New Delhi was a front-runner.

00:17Venues like Bharat Mandapam and Yasha Bhoomi were under consideration.

00:20But concerns quickly mounted.

00:22Reportedly, the timing in November coincided with Delhi's peak pollution season.

00:26Air quality, logistics and scheduling all became sticking points.

00:29As Delhi faltered, other cities were floated like Chandigarh, Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

00:33FIDE's officials made multiple visits reviewing infrastructure, hotels and venues.

00:38What sealed it was Goa's unique blend of readiness and appeal.

00:41Modern facilities, smoother approvals and a cultural backdrop that offered something no Metro could.

00:46As FIDE president put it, Goa would be a celebration of chess and a unique experience for players and spectators.

00:52This isn't Goa's first brush with world chess.

00:54In 2002, India last hosted the FIDE World Cup in Hyderabad,

00:58where chess legend Vishwanathan Anand lifted the trophy.

01:01That same year, Goa hosted the World Junior Championship,

01:03quietly marking its entry into the global chess map.

01:06Since then, Goa has transformed.

01:08Beyond music, festivals and beaches,

01:10it has grown into a hub for sports tourism from football to volleyball and now chess.

01:14The state has also built an international reputation, particularly with Russian and European visitors as both a holiday and sporting destination.

01:2223 years after Anand's triumph, the World Cup returns to India, but this time, it lands on the shores of Goa.

01:28Delhi lost its chance, Goa seized the moment and in this game, the winning move wasn't just made on the board, it was the choice of venue.

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