FIDE World Cup 30 October - 27 November 2025

[John Moore]

Dubov Meier is worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-worl ... o/eh6tDnYp

I thought 7...Nf5 was supposed to be unplayable.

I've played it a couple of times in Rapidplay but it is close to unplayable.

[LawrenceCooper]

thanks for above replies on the third candidates' spot.

Artemiev's clock handling was insane in both final games. He seemed to get a bad bargain in Armageddon too.

His clock handling was like that throughout the match and, I suspect, is not uncommon for him in general.

[Mick Norris]

I gather the armageddon bids were 2 m 48 from MVL and 2 min 40 from Artemiev, so lower than the previous armageddon

Rest day tomorrow

[Michael Yeo]

Dubov Meier is worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-worl ... o/eh6tDnYp

I thought 7...Nf5 was supposed to be unplayable.

I've played it a couple of times in Rapidplay but it is close to unplayable.

The main reason it is unplayable is 8.g4!

[John Moore]

Dubov Meier is worth a look if you like that sort of thing.

https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-worl ... o/eh6tDnYp

I thought 7...Nf5 was supposed to be unplayable.

I've played it a couple of times in Rapidplay but it is close to unplayable.

The main reason it is unplayable is 8.g4!

Absolutely. 8..a6 9 gf5 ab5 10 fg6 forces 10 .. Qe7 which is no fun at all.

[LawrenceCooper]

Looking at the pairings for the last 32 it does look like a good opportunity for someone outside the top 20 in the top half to make it to the final: https://worldcup2025.fide.com/tournament-bracket/

[Nick Burrows]

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[Paul Cooksey]

I know I'm a grinch but I hope we don't get three candidates who are below 2700. It is a shame Pragg and Keymer are in the same quarter

[Nick Burrows]

Sargsyan Vs Sindarov
Harikrishna Vs Martinez

Dubov v Rapport
Lagrave v Keymer

Pranav V Liang
Liem v Bluebaum

Wei Yi v Sevian
Aronian v Erigaisi

[Christopher Kreuzer]

For the avoidance of doubt, those are Nick B's predictions!!

The actual last 16 line-up will not be decided for a few days yet.

[Geoff Chandler]

I know I'm a grinch but I hope we don't get three candidates who are below 2700.

Hi Paul,

I'll bite, I have to go out at 11 o'clock, I've got up too early.

If an under 2700 makes it then they have made it by playing the better chess when it mattered, holding their nerve and having that little bit of luck.
Come the candidates the 2700+ players will be thinking, draw with fellow 2700+ players and take points off the under 2700's.This will make for some pretty exciting games and a few shock results.

Are you OK with Nakamura using his four digit number to get into the candidates by beating up 2200 players. I think it's great. That back door has been slammed shut, the rating spot for the 2028 candidates will go to one of the players from this 'Best of Everything in Chess Circus' (or what ever it is called) that kicks off in 2027.

And if (hopefully) a few under 2700's get into the candidates they will have a few months to get a team together and book up. (apparently Morphy would only need a month or two and that was without the internet) There is still no venue for the candidates. I'm thinking America will step in.

[Mick Norris]

I know I'm a grinch but I hope we don't get three candidates who are below 2700. It is a shame Pragg and Keymer are in the same quarter

Pragg has a big lead in the FIDE Circuit; he's on 107, followed by the already qualified Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum; next is Keymer on 55.83, followed by So on 52.41 and Abdusattarov on 51.99

From my viewpoint, if Keymer qualifies through the World Cup and Pragg through the Circuit, at least we avoid So qualifying (and having too many Americans)

Bluebaum's live rating is 2685, so he's getting closer to 2700

[Rob Coles]

I know I'm a grinch but I hope we don't get three candidates who are below 2700. It is a shame Pragg and Keymer are in the same quarter

Pragg has a big lead in the FIDE Circuit; he's on 107, followed by the already qualified Giri, Caruana and Bluebaum; next is Keymer on 55.83, followed by So on 52.41 and Abdusattarov on 51.99

From my viewpoint, if Keymer qualifies through the World Cup and Pragg through the Circuit, at least we avoid So qualifying (and having too many Americans)

Praggnanandhaa & Keymer are in the same quarter of the draw so presumably cannot both pick up spots from the world cup. I will try and work out if an outright win in the London chess classic would give Abdusattarov the 4 points to overtake Keymer. I can't imagine there are too many more opportunities to score Circuit points and that if Pragg finishes in top 3 here the world rapid and blitz will be the final throw of the dice.

[Mick Norris]

The FIDE Circuit website has

NOVEMBER
FIDE World Cup 2025 (Goa, India, November 01-27, 2025)
Campeonato Sudamericano Absoluto (Rancagua, Chile, November 03-08, 2025)
2025 US Masters (Charlotte, USA, November 26 – 30, 2025)
2025 London Chess Classic Masters (London, UK, November 26 – December 02, 2025)
2025 London Chess Classic* (London, UK, November 26 – December 05, 2025)

DECEMBER
President Cup “Masters” group (Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 04-12 December, 2025)
2025 London Chess Classic Super Rapidplay* (London, UK, December 06 – 07, 2025)
FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2025 (Doha, Qatar, December 25 – 31, 2025)
* – provisional

Tashkent doesn't seem to be relevant, nor the US Masters

[NickFaulks]

Are you OK with Nakamura using his four digit number to get into the candidates by beating up 2200 players. I think it's great.

If you mean because it makes the monkeys who draft these regulations look like monkeys ( again ), then I agree with you. Otherwise not.

There is still no venue for the candidates. I'm thinking America will step in.

Unlucky timing, you should have waited an hour!