Right to Equality

• Yuri Volokhov, Кирсан Илюмжинов: Хоу Ифань переключилась на мужские шахматы | Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov: 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has chosen to play the men’s chess circuit, Sovetsky Sport, March 30, 2017

FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov told Sovetsky Sport why four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) refused to take part in the Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Tournalment at Tehran, Iran, ended in the early days of March. — You spoke with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Why did she not play in Tehran? — She has chosen to play the men’s circuit; she has her own plans. The Women’s World Chess Championship Knockout Tournament was not in her schedule. She has already joined the Grand Prix 2017 and played the first stage in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. And soon she will play the second one, which will be held in Moscow, Russia, next May. — But after refusing to play the World Championship Knockout Tournament, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) lost the crown. — Yes, 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí) is now the new Women’s World Chess Champion. — Did 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) not tell you why she turned to men’s circuit? Perhaps, does she aim for the men’s title? — Perhaps [laughs]. No, I wouldn’t say so. It’s just that at the moment she is more interested in men’s circuit.