Ju Wenjun of China, left, is defending her world chess title in Russia ©Getty Images

China’s Ju Wenjun, winner of the the women’s world chess title in May this year, has had less time than her predecessors to enjoy the feeling of being number one, as she has been obliged to start an early defence of her title.

The latest version of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) flagship event for women is now getting underway in Khanty-Mansisyk in Russia, and the 27-year-old from Shanghai is having to put her title on the line in a 64-player knock-out competition.

This will culminate in two players reaching the final next month.

The reason for this unusual configuration is FIDE’s desire to get the competition back to its normal place in the calendar after disruption through various hosting and timing issues recently.

Beginning from 2010, the Women's World Chess Championship has been held annually in alternating formats.

In even years a 64-player knockout system has been used, and in odd years a classical match featuring only two players has been held.

China's world chess champion Ju Wenjun, right, is defending her title against 63 challengers in Russia, including the woman she beat in the final earlier this year, compatriot Tan Zhongyi, left ©Getty Images
China's world chess champion Ju Wenjun, right, is defending her title against 63 challengers in Russia, including the woman she beat in the final earlier this year, compatriot Tan Zhongyi, left ©Getty Images

Wenjun took the title in her home city earlier this year with a victory over compatriot Tan Zhongyi by 5½-4½, having followed an opening draw with two victories - a lead she never relinquished.

Tan is among the 64 entrants for the latest version, although ranked only eighth going into the event.

Wenjun is top-ranked, ahead of Humpy Koneru, India’s 2011 runner-up, and Russia’s Kateryna Lagno.

Also in strong contention will be Ukraine’s Mariya Muzychuk, world champion from April 2015 to March 2016, who subsequently lost her title to four-times winner Hou Yifan of China.

Muzychuk enters ranked seventh, three places below her younger sister Anna, who was beaten by Tan in the 2017 final.