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Round 3 Tsunami: The Most Shocking Day of the FIDE World Cup 2025
The FIDE World Cup 2025 in Goa, India, just delivered an earthquake of upsets! Round three has seen a staggering rate of eliminations, with the biggest headline being the sensational defeat of World Champion D. Gukesh by the young German Grandmaster Frederik Svane.
This is the ultimate proof that the single-elimination knockout format is chess’s most brutal battleground. The stakes are immense—players are fighting for a piece of the $2 Million prize fund and crucial spots in the 2026 FIDE Candidates Tournament.
The Svane Upset: How the World Champion Was Taken Down
In what is undoubtedly the biggest upset of the tournament so far, GM Frederik Svane (ranked outside the world’s top 80) managed to eliminate the reigning World Champion, Gukesh Dommaraju.
After drawing the first classical game, Gukesh, playing with the white pieces in the must-win second game, could not break through Svane’s staunch defense. Svane, a rising star from the burgeoning German chess scene, secured the decisive result, forcing Gukesh to resign in a tough endgame. This victory immediately makes Svane a household name and the event’s most sensational story.
The Grandmaster Graveyard: Top 2700+ Players Fall
The Gukesh elimination was just the tip of the iceberg. Several other high-rated 2700+ Grandmasters were also sent packing, proving that reputation counts for little in this high-pressure knockout event:
| Eliminated Star (Seed/Rating) | Victorious Opponent | Notes |
| GM Anish Giri (2759) | GM Alexander Donchenko | A major upset, sending a top Dutch star home. |
| GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2750) | GM Jose Martinez | The Mexican GM completes a stunning victory. |
| GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2742) | GM Nils Grandelius | The experienced Azeri GM is knocked out. |
| GM Vladimir Fedoseev (2717) | GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek | The Russian-turned-Slovenian star is out. |
The Rise of German Chess Power
Despite the global shockwaves, German chess is thriving! With Frederik Svane’s heroics, four German Grandmasters are still in the running: Svane, Vincent Keymer, Matthias Bluebaum, and Alexander Donchenko. This tournament is rapidly becoming a statement event for the German Federation.
What Happens Next? Tiebreaks and Indian Hopes
While Gukesh is out, other top Indian stars, including R. Praggnanandhaa (who defeated Hovhannisyan) and Arjun Erigaisi, have advanced to Round 4 or are heading into tiebreaks, keeping national hopes alive.