India, Nov. 10 -- Ian Nepomniachtchi's second-round exit at the ongoing Chess World Cup 2025 prompted the Russian GM to criticise the tournament organisers for the playing and living conditions provided to players in Goa. Meanwhile, world no. 3 Fabiano Caruana, who decided to skip the event, and Christian Chirila alleged on their C Squared Podcast that some players told them there were bedbugs in the hotel.

Since then, chess Vassily Ivanchuk, who also crashed out of the second round, took a different stance. The Ukrainian GM praised the tournament organisers in a press conference and blamed his elimination on his performance in the round.

Dutch GM Anish Giri also labelled the complaints as 'funny', and also slammed Caruana's claim.

Spe...