With the FIDE World Cup returning to India after 23 years, world champion D Gukesh said that he was looking forward to going back to Goa, a place where he has pleasant memories from his early playing days. The World Cup is scheduled to start October 31 to November 27 at a resort in North Goa.

“I am really excited about the World Cup. Playing anywhere in India is great and I have some great memories of Goa. I have played some junior events there. So, looking forward to being there,” Gukesh , who will start as the top seed here, said.

Gukesh had last competed in Goa in 2019, finishing 10th in the Category ‘A’ Goa International Open Grandmasters Chess Tournament despite being seeded much lower at the start. The reigning world champion has received a bye in the opening round and is likely

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