Chess World Cup 2025: Shixu Wang Shocks Leon Mendonca, 20 Matches Head to Tiebreakers!
In a thrilling start to the tournament, 20 out of 78 matches in the first round of the FIDE World Cup 2025 are heading to rapid and blitz tiebreakers on Monday. The biggest surprise of the day was International Master Shixu Wang's victory over Grandmaster Leon Mendonca, a true David vs. Goliath scenario. Wang, with a rating of 2402, defeated Mendonca, who boasts a rating of 2620. But that's not all—there were only two other instances where the lower-rated player emerged victorious: GM Felix Blohberger's win over GM Constantin Lupulescu, and GM Martin Petrov's triumph over GM Krikor Mekhitarian.
This is just a glimpse of the action! The full article, complete with game analysis, player interviews, and captivating photographs, will be available soon.
And the excitement continues! The tiebreakers for round one will commence on Monday, November 3rd, at 4:30 a.m. ET, 10:30 a.m. CET, and 3:00 p.m. IST. But here's where it gets even more intense: the top 50 seeds, including the world champion GM Gukesh Dommaraju, will enter the tournament in round two on Tuesday, adding another layer of complexity to the competition.
Controversy Alert: Some might argue that the seeding system favors certain players, while others believe it's a fair way to ensure the top players face off in the later rounds. What's your take on this?
To witness the drama unfold, tune in to Chess.com/TV, Chess24, Twitch, or YouTube. You can also follow the games on the official event page. The live broadcast was expertly hosted by IMs Jovanka Houska and Anna Rudolf.
The FIDE World Cup 2025, held in Goa, India, from November 1st to 26th, is a high-stakes tournament with a $2 million prize fund. It's a single-elimination knockout format with 206 players and eight rounds, where each match consists of two classical games, followed by rapid and blitz tiebreakers if necessary. Three players will secure spots in the prestigious 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
Stay tuned for more updates, and don't miss the chance to voice your opinions on the tournament's format and outcomes!
