"The ongoing $2m, 206-player World Cup in Goa, India, has a brutal format designed to maximise the chance of shock results. Its knockout matches consist of the best of just two classical games, followed by rapid and blitz tiebreaks at increasingly fast speeds, then a final Armageddon game where White has more time but is obliged to win. 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. Goa is one of those places you don't feel sad about leaving. It was worse for So, who resigned against the Lithuanian Titas Stremavicius in a drawn position where the American GM overlooked a hidden stalemate resource."
The $2m, 206-player World Cup in Goa uses a knockout format of two classical games followed by rapid and blitz tiebreaks and an Armageddon decider. The tournament awards prize money and three places in the 2026 Candidates, offering a pathway to the world title. Several high-profile players were eliminated early, including Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wesley So and Hans Niemann. Nepomniachtchi lost to Indian Diptayan Ghosh and posted a laconic message about the chess. So resigned in a drawn position after overlooking a stalemate resource against Titas Stremavicius. Michael Adams, 53, advanced after dominating 3+2 blitz games to defeat Ivan Cheparinov.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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