Tasnim- Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), says that he has become very happy after Iran requested to host Women's World Chess Championship 2017 since chess is popular in the country.





The Women's World Chess Championship 2017 started on Friday in Tehran and will run until March 5.

The knock-out tournament will have the participation of some of the world�s top players, including the former Women�s World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia), Anna Ushenina (Ukraine), Zhu Chen (Qatar) and Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), the current Women�s World Rapid and Blitz Champion Anna Muzychuk, the winner of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2015-2016 Ju Wenjun (China), the three-time Russian champion and two-time European Champion Valentina Gunina and other leading grandmasters.

Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, Atousa Pourkashiyan and Mitra Hejazipour will represent Iran in the prestigious event.

�It was a good news hearing that the Iranian chess federation wanted to host the world championship. Chess is popular in Iran and has a long history in the country. The Iranian well-known poet Ferdowsi talked about chess in Shahnameh in the 11th century,� Ilyumzhinov said in the opening ceremony.

�Iran also successfully hosted the Women�s Grand Prix last year and it is another reason why we became happy to receive Iran�s request to host the competition,� FIDE President added.