Women’s World Chess Championship ongoing in Iran despite boycott

By Errol Tiwari On In Chess with Errol |
The Kasparov Chess Foundation is marking its 15th anniversary and has endorsed its commitment towards improving scholastic chess in the US. Last weekend, the Greater New York, Greater Chicago and Greater Baltimore chess tournaments were held for school-aged kids. The New York event alone attracted 1,478 players. Legendary world champion Garry Kasparov attended the event and was invited to make the first move on a number of chess boards. In the photo, a beginner chess player has the attention of the former world champion. The US boasts three players in the world’s top ten, more than any other nation. (Photo: Vanessa Sun/Chess Base)
The Kasparov Chess Foundation is marking its 15th anniversary and has endorsed its commitment towards improving scholastic chess in the US. Last weekend, the Greater New York, Greater Chicago and Greater Baltimore chess tournaments were held for school-aged kids. The New York event alone attracted 1,478 players. Legendary world champion Garry Kasparov attended the event and was invited to make the first move on a number of chess boards. In the photo, a beginner chess player has the attention of the former world champion. The US boasts three players in the world’s top ten, more than any other nation. (Photo: Vanessa Sun/Chess Base)

The FIDE 2017 Women’s World Chess Champion-ship is underway in Tehran, Iran, amid the boycott of a handful of notable players. Non-participants of the calibre of China’s world champion Hou Yifan, the US champion Nazi Paikidze, former Women’s World Champion Mariya Muzychuk and India’s World Championship finalist Koneru Humpy protested to FIDE about the choice of  location.