Multiple “Cupsets” at the World Chess Cup 2025

The FIDE World Chess Cup 2025 is taking place October 30 – November 27 in India. It will feature 206 players in 8 knockout rounds of classical games. The World Cup serves as a critical part of the FIDE World Championship cycle, with the top three finishers qualifying for the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which determines the next challenger for the World Chess Championship title. Live games and live video broadcast will be daily on Chessdom (make sure to check the main page for the latest coverage) , while additional live coverage will be available on Chessdom’s Twitter/X page

After two rounds, the World Cup has seen multiple “Cupsets”, including the elimination of Nepo, Hans Niemann, Wesley So, Volodar Murzin, Ray Robson, Chithambaram Aravindh, etc. Even the top seed Pragg was on the verge of elimination, but saved a marathon match.

Note: Cupset is “Upset in the Cup knockout format”, a term coined in the chat of the Top Chess Engine Championship

Pairings for round 3 of the World Chess Cup 2025

Here are all the sections and brackets for round 3 of the World Chess Cup. Section 1 will have the World Champion Gukesh play vs Frederik Svane and Sargsyan play vs Mustafa Yilmaz.

Section 2 features Yu Yangyi, Nikolas Theodorou, Narayanan S L, and Javokhir Sindarov. Section 3 looks “heavier” with Mamedyarov, Dardha, Grandelius, and Harikrishna

In Section 4 one of the favorites Nodirbek Abdusattorov meets Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara. The other match is Jorden Van Forest vs Alexey Sarana.

Section 5 of the FIDE World Chess Cup 2025 has its top player Wesley So eliminated, producing one of the biggest “Cupsets” so far.

Section 6 of the FIDE World Chess Cup 2025 in Goa features Awonder Liang vs Rasmus Svane and Gabriel Sargissian vs Diptayan Ghosh (see interview with Diptayan Ghosh here)

Sections 7 and 8 of the FIDE World Cup. The top match: Anish Giri vs David Anton

Sections 9 and 10 of the FIDE World Cup – with the top seeded Pragg in action, as well as his compatriot Vidit and the top match Yagiz Kaan Erdogmus vs Richard Rapport

Section 11 of the FIDE World Chess Cup 2025 is the section that brings hope to Russia as Alekseev and Grebnev meet Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Stamatis Kourkoulos-Arditis

Sections 12 and 13 of the FIDE World Chess Cup 2025. Here we find three 2700+ players – Vincent Keymer, Parham Maghsoodloo, and Wei Yi.

Section 14 of the FIDE World Chess Cup 2025. Two of the tiebreak stars Lorenzo Lodici and Michael Adams meet in round 3.

Sections 15 and 16 of the FIDE World Chess Cup 2025. The strongest US player remaining Levon Aronian and the highest rated Indian Arjun Erigaisi are in those brackets