China to host inaugural World Cup

By P. K. Ajith Kumar

KOZHIKODE, JUNE 14. China has been allotted the inaugural chess World Cup. The FIDE Vice President Mr. P.T. Ummer Koya told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the World chess governing body resolved to entrust the conduct of the World Cup with the Chinese Chess Association. It would commence in Shenyang, which hosted the Asian team championship last year, in the first week of September.

China, which lost to India in the race to host this year's World championship, was expected to pay FIDE the application fee within a week, Mr. Koya added. There would also be a World Cup for women.

The proposed prize fund for the World Cup is $500,000. ``The champion will get $50,000 and the runner-up $30,000,'' said Mr. Koya. ``It was last year that FIDE first thought of holding a World Cup for chess. Our main objective is to provide every chess player in the World, regardless of his rating, an opportunity to compete with the best and vie for the top honour, and a huge prize-money.

Twenty four players will be invited for the event. They are the current World champion, the best junior in the FIDE rating list of January, the highest rated female player, two nominees of the FIDE President on the recommendation of the World Chess Cup Committee, one nominee of the host federation, eight players comprising the best two from each of the previous continental championships and the 10 highest rated players.

For the women's World Cup, the following players are eligible: the current women's World champion, the best junior female player in the FIDE rating list of January, three nominees of the FIDE President on the recommendation of the World Chess Cup Committee, one nominee of the host federation, eight players comprising the best two from each of the previous continental championships and the 10 highest rated female players in the January rating list of FIDE.

In the preliminary stage of the World Cup, the 24 players will be divided into four groups of six players each. They will play five games.

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