Indian chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy has targeted the organizers of the Candidates tournament for going ahead with the event in Cyprus despite the security risks posed by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
According to Reuters, a drone attack on a British airbase in Cyprus earlier this month renewed calls for an end to Britain’s military presence on the Mediterranean island, with many fearing the country could be drawn into a wider conflict over Iran.
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In an interview with Indian media, as reported by Worldchess.com, Humpy was candid about her reservations.
“I am not sure if I will play for the candidates. It depends on the situation,” she said. “Right now I’m a little worried about the security of drone attacks and warships deployed in the Mediterranean. And very recently there was a bombing between Israel and Lebanon because of Hezbollah. So that makes me a little hesitant to go. If the situation continues like this, I really doubt I’ll be there.”
NOT SINGLE FOR A WORLD CLASS TOURNAMENT
She was also pointed to the decision to hold the event in Cyprus.
“At the end of the day, you should be able to play the game in a calm and good atmosphere. Not surrounded by bomb or missile sirens. I don’t think it should be the stage for a world-class tournament. You don’t have to be desperate to hold events in such an environment.”
While admitting that the tournament could have gone ahead without incident, Humpy argued that the risk alone required a different venue.
“Certainly there is tension on the island. The whole event can go on without further escalation. Nobody knows what will happen. But we know that the risk is there. When there is a 10 or 20 percent risk when playing in Cyprus, what was the need to hold an event in this place? When the war started, they already had signs of what was going on. You should not go into a dangerous situation.”
BIGGER THAN JUST ONE PLAYER
Humpy also addressed X to emphasize that her comments came from principle rather than self-interest. “I know I may not be able to make a difference on my own. But regardless of whether or not I play in the candidates, I felt it was important to express what I really felt,” she wrote.
The Humps are among the strong Indian contingent that will feature as candidates. CEOs Divya Deshmukh and Vaishali Rameshbabu are part of the women’s section, while R Praggnanandhaa will represent India at the Open.
Whether Humpy will take her place among them remains an open question for now.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
18 March 2026 11:40 AM IST
