With the successful hosting of the Carlsen – Anand World Championship Match in Sochi, Russia last November and with FIDE running out of options from its usual patrons (read oil-rich Arab states and ex-Soviet countries), it was no surprise that Russia President Vladimir Putin was once again asked to help out.
So in the last few weeks there has been a surge of activity regarding the Women’s World Championship which will be also be held in Sochi from March 16 to April 7, 2015 but no mention has been made of the fact that the defending champion Hóu Yìfán will not be playing. It’s very interesting that this was already known as early as late January/early February at the Gibraltar Masters where Yìfán advised she would not be playing. The announcement hardly provoked a reaction. Yìfán made a few pertinent points in her usual polite manner, amongst them the fact that the championship was postponed without firm dates and she had already signed a contract to play in Hawaii. She also felt it was strange that the women’s championship had a different format and frequency from the men’s championship. [Read more]. |
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