Overview
- Play runs November 1–26 at Resort Rio in Arpora, North Goa, with daily starts scheduled for 3 PM IST.
- The event uses an eight-round single-elimination format featuring two classical games per match and rapid/blitz tie-breaks on a third day if needed.
- Live coverage will stream on FIDE’s YouTube channel, with no television broadcast in India.
- India fields a record 24 players led by world champion D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, with Gukesh not required to qualify through the Candidates cycle.
- The top 50 seeds receive byes into round two, while 156 players start in round one, and notable absentees include Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura and Fabiano Caruana.