"I plan to visit South Korea, Singapore, Japan and China in April. China also showed an interest in organizing a match for the title of world champion for the reason that recently the Chinese World Champion (in the knockout format) became Chinese Tan Zhongyi. And one of the major cities expressed a willingness to hold two matches in a row — among women (Tan Zhongyi will fight against her compatriot Jiu Wenjun) and men. They intend to organize a duel for the title of the world champion in the end of 2017, which will serve as a kind of promotion and advertising of the men's championship match in 2018, "Ilyumzhinov said.
One of the major cities of China shows interest in organizing two consecutive matches for the title of world chess champions: among women in 2017 and among men in 2018, said FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.
According to Ilyumzhinov, among the contenders for holding of the men’s world championship in late 2018 are Singapore, Japan, Thailand and Norway. The fight for the title of the women's world champion will be held in late 2017.