American Grandmaster Wesley So has backed Ian Nepomniachtchi’s criticism of the Chess World Cup conditions in Goa and has questioned the current World Cup format. He also shared his views on D Gukesh and his recent performance dip.
American Grandmaster Wesley So has spoken out after a disappointing outing at the recently concluded Chess World Cup in Goa, where he was knocked out in the early stages. The 32-year-old has had a difficult year in the format and has now slipped to 11th in the latest FIDE rankings, falling out of the top ten.
Speaking exclusively to Hindustan Times, So criticised the current World Cup format and admitted that it has not suited his style of play since changes were made in 2021. He also supported Ian Nepomniachtchi’s controversial comments about the playing conditions in Goa, saying the Russian GM’s complaints were “quite valid”.
“Yeah, I think Nepo’s complaints are quite valid,” So told the outlet on the sidelines of the ongoing Global Chess League in Mumbai. Nepomniachtchi, a two-time Candidates Tournament winner, was also knocked out early in Goa after losing to Indian Grandmaster Diptayan Ghosh in the second round.
Following his defeat,
Nepo left the venue at Resort Rio in North Goa’s Arpora and later posted sharp criticism on Telegram. Nepomniachtchi blamed the conditions in India, saying it was a place one “won’t regret leaving”. He complained about the food options at the venue and said he struggled with the heat, mosquitoes, etc.
According to him, these factors affected his rest and preparation, contributing to his early exit. Nepomniachtchi’s comments sparked backlash from fans and organisers, and even some of the participants criticised him. Resort Rio owner also hit back, saying, “It’s a bit like if I decide to go to Siberia and complain about the cold. There will be mosquitoes here. We’re in a tropical country.”
So slams the World Cup format
Meanwhile, So also criticised the current World Cup format, saying the location of the tournament often puts certain players at a disadvantage. According to him, FIDE frequently hosts the World Cup in faraway places such as Azerbaijan, Eastern Europe, or India, which gives players living closer to those regions a natural advantage.
“I don’t want to make excuses, but ever since the World Cup format changed in 2021, I’ve never played well in it. Earlier, with 128 players, you’d face a 2350-rated player in round one. Now, with 208 players, you face someone rated 2550. Every draw costs you rating points, so it’s very difficult,” he said.
“FIDE also often hosts it in faraway places, such as Azerbaijan, Eastern Europe, or India, so players living closer have an advantage. You primarily play the World Cup to qualify for the Candidates, but you must win many matches against lower-rated players. One mistake can be very costly. I’ll try to qualify for the Candidates through another route,” So added.
So backs Gukesh to bounce back
While So and Nepo failed to secure spots in next year’s Candidates through the World Cup, Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov, China’s Wei Yi and Russia’s Andrey Esipenko qualified by finishing in the top three of the tournament. The Candidates Tournament 2026 will decide the challenger for the World Chess Championship 2026.
India’s
D Gukesh is the reigning world chess champion, and the winner of the Candidates will challenge him. Speaking about Gukesh and his recent dip in form, So said, “I think Gukesh has a very good chance because the match is still far in the future. He has time to prepare, get into form, and improve his shape.”
“Right now, he’s not playing his best chess, but he can bounce back. He has an upcoming classical tournament in Wijk aan Zee, which will give a better idea of his current strength. He also has many coaches and experienced people around him — maybe even Viswanathan Anand could help,” he added.
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