FIDE World Championship and World Women's Championship will start on Saturday November 25, 2000 at New Delhi and the finals will be held in Teheran, Iran, FIDE's official website reported on Saturday. This was agreed at the FIDE Presidential Board Meeting in London on May 13.

About 100 grandmasters will be visiting the nation on account of this event. The previous significant show was held at Sanghinagar in 1994 and 1995 when the FIDE Candidates Quarter finals and Semi-Finals were held near Hyderabad. When contacted Anand was `surprised' by this venue as only Hong Kong and South Africa were mentioned repeatedly in FIDE circles. For the first time the Women's World Championship will also have a knock out.