 "Nepomniachtchi makes explosive claims on Goa venue after early exit from FIDE World Cup: ‘Heat, humidity, mosquitoes…")
The ongoing FIDE World Cup in Goa has had its fair share of drama, both on the chess board and off it. The tournament has witnessed some giant-killing acts, including Germany's Frederik Svane knocking reigning world champion D Gukesh out in the third round with a stunning victory in the second Classical game on Saturday.
Veteran Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi is also among the high-profile early exits so far in the ongoing tournament, with the two-time Candidates winner getting knocked out by Indian GM Diptayan Ghosh in the second round.
The former world No 2, however, isn’t making headlines with regards to the ongoing World Cup for his performance on the board as much as he is for his behaviour off it. ‘Nepo’, after all, had stormed out of Resort Rio, the property in North Goa’s Arpora where the event is taking place, after his second-round loss against GM Ghosh.
🚨 UPSET ALERT
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 5, 2025
Ian Nepomniachtchi (2732) loses to 🇮🇳 Diptayan Ghosh (2573) in Game 2 and is eliminated from the #FIDEWorldCup! pic.twitter.com/Ar2z3fWjpm
Instead of discussing his performance, Nepomniachtchi chose to blame the conditions in India, describing it as a place one “won’t regret leaving” in a post on Telegram.
And in another video posted on Telegram in Russian, Nepomniachtchi expands on some of the issues that faced at the resort in Goa, from the food served to hotel facilities and sultry conditions. The Russian also compared his experience in the 2025 World Cup to the 2019 Tata Steel Rapid and Blitz in Kolkata – the only other event on Indian soil that he had taken part in.
“The hotel was decent, but there were armed guards on every floor because cricket players were staying there too—it was a big deal for the city. Fans were enthusiastic, but I was unpleasantly surprised by the conditions overall. The players’ lounge, for example, was tiny and had no ventilation—very uncomfortable between rounds. Anyway, that was a short commercial event, not to be taken too seriously,” Nepomniachtchi said in the Telegram video on his experience in Kolkata, based on a loose translation provided by ChatGPT.
‘Nepo’ slams lack of meat options at Goa resort
And coming to the World Cup in Goa, Nepomniachtchi would go on to complain about the food provided at the venue and the lack of options.
“And, of course, the big problem for me—and probably for many others—is the food. The food is very specific. Meat isn’t really available—basically just chicken. I remember in Kolkata the restaurant was good, more European-style, but this time in Goa, not so much.
“There were only a few European-style dishes—some vegetables, and occasionally pasta that was almost edible, with minimal spices. So I mostly lived on rice and flatbreads. Fruits were available, but how many pineapples can you eat to meet your daily calories? Breakfast was okay—you could order an omelet, which felt like a luxury by hotel standards,” he continued.
He also claimed to be affected by the heat, mosquitoes and jet lag adding that the power cuts only made it worse for him. According to Nepomniachtchi, lack of proper rest due to aforementioned factors contributed to his early exit from the World Cup.
“The climate was extremely humid, 30°C even in November. When the air conditioner doesn’t work, it’s no joke. We flew overnight from Moscow, and I made the mistake of sleeping in the afternoon, which ruined my schedule for the next three days. I couldn’t adjust.
“So, when you don’t sleep well, don’t eat well, and can’t get into rhythm—it’s not great for performance. Add heat, humidity, mosquitoes, and jet lag—it’s brutal,” the reigning joint-world blitz champion continued.
‘A cheap children’s tournament hotel’
As for the hotel itself, ‘Nepo’ felt that it was three stars at best, and not the five-star property it claimed to be. He even claimed to have spoken with FIDE officials present regarding their choice for the venue, claiming he was informed that the resort was the only hotel in Goa with a conference hall that could be converted into a long playing room.
“The hotel itself… well, let’s just say I wasn’t the first and won’t be the last to complain. Even other chess players posted about it—Maxim Chigaev, for instance, showed that his ‘five-star’ hotel view was of a construction site,” he continued.
“The room itself was terrible. I’ve been traveling to tournaments since I was about 10, and this was one of the worst. Like an off-season family resort turned into a cheap children’s tournament hotel.
“The hotel claimed to be five stars, but realistically it was maybe a low three. When I asked FIDE why they chose that place, they said it was the only hotel in Goa with a conference hall. Technically true, but to reach the restroom from the hall, you had to go outside into +30°C heat and back into a freezing 21°C air-conditioned room. Not ideal. So overall, very tough conditions. Those more accustomed to India probably had an advantage,” he added.
FIDE and local organisers, meanwhile, claim that they had not received an official complaint in writing from the concerned player.
Additionally, Nepomniachtchi’s explosive claims have been rubbished by fellow chess icons such as Ukraine's Vassily Ivanchuk and Netherlands’ Anish Giri, both of whom have also had to bid the tournament goodbye in the first three rounds.
 "Was Red Fort blast a hurried move? Explosives stashed over 2 years for multi-city strike, hints probe")
 "'He's hated out here': Starmer allies fear his position is at risk as UK PM vows to ‘keep fighting’")
 "Islamabad sees worst suicide attack since 2008: What happened?")
 "Delhi's air quality reaches emergency levels for the first time this year, Grap 3 enforced")
 "Was Red Fort blast a hurried move? Explosives stashed over 2 years for multi-city strike, hints probe")
 "'He's hated out here': Starmer allies fear his position is at risk as UK PM vows to ‘keep fighting’")
 "Islamabad sees worst suicide attack since 2008: What happened?")
 "Delhi's air quality reaches emergency levels for the first time this year, Grap 3 enforced")
