Draft:Chess World Cup 2025 (Round 2)
The Round 2 Tiebreaks of the sports event, the 2025 FIDE World Cup, took place on 6 November 2025, in Goa, India. At the end of the tiebreak stage 27 players were eliminated and 64 players advanced to Round 3.
Background
[edit]The 2025 FIDE World Cup is a 206-player, single-elimination chess tournament held in Goa, India, and it serves as a qualification event for the 2026 Candidates Tournament. In the Round 2 tiebreaks 27 players were eliminated from contention
Format and time controls
[edit]The matches in Round 2 tiebreaks followed the progression:
- Two classical games (15+10 minutes),
- if needed two rapid games (10+10 minutes),
- if needed two faster rapid games (5+3 minutes),
- if needed two blitz games (3+2 minutes),
- if still tied one bidding Armageddon game (4+2 minutes base). :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Notable results
[edit]Some of the key results of Round 2 tiebreaks included:
| Board | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu | 5-3 | Temur Kuybokarov | Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} |
| 4 | Lorenzo Lodici | 2.5-1.5 | Hans Niemann | Lorenzo Lodici :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9} |
| 14 | Rasmus Svane | 6-5 | Rauf Mamedov | Rasmus Svane :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} |
| 17 | S L Narayanan | 5-3 | Nikita Vitiugov | S L Narayanan :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11} |
Also, a number of higher‐seeded players advanced smoothly in the top boards; for example, and both advanced after short matches in the early tiebreak stages. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
Highlights and commentary
[edit]The biggest surprise was Lodici’s win over Niemann. Lodici remarked: > "I kind of had the feeling it was going to be a good day… [and] he felt the pressure much more than me and that was kind of what did the trick!" :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15} Meanwhile, then‐world champion and commentator described the game as “an absolutely wild game.” :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17} In the Svane–Mamedov match, after two draws in the classical portion, all remaining games until the Armageddon were decisive with White winning each time, culminating in a final Armageddon that went down to the wire. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18} Commenting after his win, Svane said: > “I’m just so happy. I thought I completely messed up… then I would have really kicked myself… but somehow every white game was won!” :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}
Implications
[edit]With Round 2 completed via tiebreak matches, the roster of 64 players for Round 3 was determined. The winners will play the first classical game of Round 3 on 7 November 2025. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}
References
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External links
[edit]- “2025 FIDE World Cup Round 2 Tiebreaks: Lodici Knocks Out Niemann, Rasmus Svane Wins In Armageddon” at Chess.com