Chess Stars Divided on FIDE World Cup Conditions in Goa
Just days after Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi's abrupt departure from the FIDE World Cup in India, Ukrainian chess legend Vassily Ivanchuk has offered glowing praise for the tournament organizers, creating a stark contrast in player experiences at the prestigious event.
The ongoing FIDE World Cup in Goa has become the center of attention for reasons beyond chess, as two prominent players expressed dramatically different views about the tournament conditions following their second-round exits.
Ivanchuk's Triple 'Excellent' Endorsement
At a press conference held on Friday, November 7, 2025, the 56-year-old chess veteran Vassily Ivanchuk was asked about his experience with the working conditions and overall atmosphere in Goa. His response left no room for ambiguity.
"Excellent, excellent, excellent," Ivanchuk emphatically stated. "I just want to say thank you to the organizers for the correct atmosphere, and to the arbiters of course. I have no complaints. I can only say thank you to everybody, especially those who supported me."
The Ukrainian grandmaster, participating in his ninth FIDE World Cup, made a clear distinction between his personal performance and the tournament organization. "My play, it's my choice, my problem probably. But it has no relation to atmosphere, to organizers," he added, taking full responsibility for his early exit.
Psychological Factors Behind Ivanchuk's Defeat
Ivanchuk, who was eliminated from the tournament after losing to American grandmaster Sam Shankland, provided insight into what went wrong during his matches. Rather than blaming external factors, the chess veteran pointed to internal struggles.
"I prepared lines, but my preparation wasn't so good, unfortunately, probably, especially from the psychological side," Ivanchuk explained. "From the opening aspect I was more or less prepared, but psychologically it's more difficult."
His candid admission about the mental challenges of high-level chess competition highlighted the intense pressure players face at world-class tournaments, regardless of their experience level.
Nepomniachtchi's Swift Departure and Criticism
The backdrop to Ivanchuk's positive comments involves Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi's dramatic exit from the tournament earlier in the week. Following his surprising second-round defeat to Indian grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh, Nepomniachtchi left the official player hotel in less than an hour.
The two-time World Chess Championship contender took to his Telegram account to express his dissatisfaction with the tournament conditions. "I'd played in India before (in 2019 in Kolkata), so I had a good idea of what the conditions would be like. But FIDE, to its credit, managed to surprise me," Nepomniachtchi wrote on Wednesday.
He concluded with a pointed remark: "There's nothing to say about the chess aspect. One of those places that you won't be sad to leave." Notably, the Russian grandmaster filed no official complaint and avoided speaking directly to media representatives about what specifically displeased him.
The contrasting reactions from two elite chess professionals have sparked discussions within the chess community about tournament conditions and player expectations at international events hosted in India.
