The $2m (£1.5m), 206-player World Cup taking place in Goa, India, has a brutal format designed to maximise the chance of shock results. The major incentive besides the prize money is three places in the 2026 Candidates, the pathway to the world title. After losing to the little-known Indian Diptayan Ghosh, Nepomniachtchi posted a laconic message: “There’s nothing to say about the chess part. Niemann was outplayed by Italy’s Lorenzo Lodici, so will have to postpone his ambition to become the first US world champion since Bobby Fischer until at least 2028. View image in fullscreen 3997: GM Levon Aronian (US) v IM Aronyak Ghosh (India), World Cup, Goa 2025.
