In 2014–15, four top 10 players (Carlsen, Anand, Topalov and Aronian) didn't participate, with the small prize funds and organizational uncertainty being the usual reasons given.
[2][3][4] The winner of the Grand Prix (and sometimes lower finishers) gets entry to the Candidates Tournament.
The women's edition has been dominated by Chinese GM Hou Yifan, though she withdrew from the 2015–16 series.
The format was changed for the FIDE Grand Prix 2017 with 24 players taking part in the cycle.
[6] After the FIDE meetings at the 42nd Chess Olympiad in Baku in early September 2016, Peter Doggers of Chess.com reported that the Grand Prix has been postponed until 2017.