The FIDE Women’s World Championship will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk on November 2-23, 2018. 64 chess players from 28 countries will determine the new world champion according to the knock-out system.
The top seed is the incumbent world champion Ju Wenjun (2561, China). Former world champions Alexandra Kosteniuk (2551, Russia), Mariya Muzychuk (2533, Ukraine), Tan Zhongyi (2527, China), Antoaneta Stefanova (2490, Bulgaria), and Anna Ushenina (2451, Ukraine) are taking part in the event as well. The tournament will also see such chess stars as Humpy Koneru (2557, India), Kateryna Lagno (2556, Russia), Anna Muzychuk (2555, Ukraine), Aleksandra Goryachkina (2536, Russia), Valentina Gunina (2525, Russia) and many others.
There shall be five rounds of matches, comprising two games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round. The 6th (final) round shall be played over four games. If the score is equal after regular games of each match, tie-break games shall be played.
The winner of the final match will be declared Women’s World Champion.
Ugra Chess Academy
The FIDE Presidential Board members have unanimously supported the proposal of the FIDE President A. Dvorkovich which has been approved by the FIDE Commission on World Championships and Olympiads.
Following the change in the system of the Women’s World Championship, the amendment to the regulations of the Women’s World Championship 2018 has been made: all semi-finalists except for the eventual winner will qualify to the forthcoming Women’s Candidate Tournament of the 2019-2020 cycle.
The venue of FIDE Women’s World Championship is a famous Ugra Chess Academy, a modern building located in the city centre. The Opening Ceremony will take place in the Concert and theatre centre “Ugra-Classic”. Governor of Ugra Natalia Komarova and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich are expected to attend the ceremony.
Khanty-Mansiysk
Schedule: November 2 – Players Meeting / Opening Ceremony, November 3-5 – Round 1, November 6-8 – Round 2, November 9-11 – Round 3, November 12-14 – Round 4 (Quarterfinals), November 15-17 – Round 5 (Semi-final), November 18 – Free day, November 19-23 – Round 6 (Final), November 23 – Closing Ceremony.
The total prize fund is USD 450,000.
