Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi expressed his frustration after his second-round defeat at the FIDE Chess World Cup in Goa. Soon after losing, he was seen leaving the playing venue and checking out of his hotel within an hour. Later, he used his Telegram channel to post a cryptic message criticizing the tournament’s arrangements, though he avoided naming specific issues. Reports suggested that he did not file an official complaint with FIDE.

Nepomniachtchi Shares His Experience in Goa

The chess star later uploaded a video message on Telegram, speaking in Russian to elaborate on his earlier comments. He compared his recent experience in Goa with past events held in India.

"The World Cup was in India, and you have to say—it’s a very specific place. I wasn’t at the Olympiad there two or three years ago, which was held in Chennai. They say it was quite okay, actually—better than expected, even though it was summer and very hot," Nepomniachtchi said.

Recalling his previous trip to Kolkata, he shared, "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."

Complaints About Food and Accommodation

Nepomniachtchi went on to describe his discomfort with the food served during the tournament. "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," he said.

He explained that the menu offered limited options. "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."

The Grandmaster also blamed the hotel for poor quality and misleading ratings. "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 said.

Humid Weather and Poor Living Conditions

Nepomniachtchi highlighted that the extreme humidity and malfunctioning air conditioning made his stay even harder. "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," he said.

He described the room conditions as poor. "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."

FIDE’s Hotel Choice Questioned

Nepomniachtchi said he asked for a different place to stay, but the alternative was worse. "I asked FIDE officials about alternative accommodation, and they offered me a villa that was ironically even cheaper—but I soon found out why. The villa was quieter, but at night the power kept cutting out, meaning the air conditioning stopped too. I learned to reset it from the breaker box, but it would just shut off again after a while. Eventually, I regretted leaving my original room. Even though it was noisy and faced some sort of construction area, it had blackout curtains and more stable power."

Concluding his remarks, he rated the hotel as below average. "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."