One of India’s top chess stars Koneru Humpy has withdrawn from the upcoming FIDE Candidates tournament in Cyprus. Her decision comes amid security concerns in West Asia, where tensions have escalated following Israel’s attack on Iran.
Humpy had previously criticized the choice of venue for the tournament, saying it was impossible to concentrate on chess with bomb sirens going off. The tournament, which is due to start in Paphos on Saturday 28 March, will determine the challenger to the women’s championship currently held by Ju Wenjun.
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Humpy, a two-time world champion in women’s rapid, was among the leading contenders but withdrew despite assurances from organisers.
“After much thought, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Candidates tournament,” Humpy said in a statement to X.
“No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances given, I do not feel completely safe under the current circumstances. It is a painful but necessary decision and I stand by it,” she added.
After Humpy’s departure, the Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk was appointed as her replacement. The move was confirmed by FIDE, who said the place had been offered to the next highest placed in the 2024-25 Women’s Series.
Muzychuk, a former women’s rapid and two-time world blitz champion, now joins the high-stakes tournament.
Humpy’s decision could also bring a €10,000 fine under tournament rules, although FIDE is yet to comment on the matter.
Safety concerns aren’t limited to Humpy. American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura also highlighted the problems, pointing to recent power outages in some parts of Cyprus before the event.
“It’s not a good sign when the power goes out completely in some parts of Cyprus and doesn’t come back on for a long time,” Nakamura wrote on Sunday.
Humpy’s withdrawal is a setback for India’s campaign, with R Praggnanandhaa, R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh among other Indian participants in the prestigious tournament.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
March 23, 2026 14:41 IST
