Breaking news: FIDE world championship in Ho Chi Minh City?
2/14/2005 – The Vietnam News Agency, Vietnamnet, is reporting that the 2005 World Chess Championship will be held at the end of the year in Ho Chi Minh City. "The National Committee for Sports and Physical Training and the HCMC People's Committee are organizing the event," writes the agency.
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According to the report Vietnam is expected to have ten participants in both men's and women's events. Vietnam, as the host federation, can nominate one male and one female player for direct entry into the final round in addition to players who qualify. The president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Kirsan Ilyamzhinov may also name one or more Vietnamese players for the final round.
"Qualifying rounds for the event are going on around the world, and tournament organisers need to put up US $2.5 million in prize money," says Vietnamnet. It is likely that the $2.5 million is for the entire event – FIDE tax, staging costs, etc.
