Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has decided to withdraw from the upcoming FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament citing security concerns in West Asia. Humpy expressed that personal safety is her top priority over competitive engagements. The tournament, set to be held in Cyprus, has faced security issues following recent events in the region.
The decision to withdraw was shared by Humpy in a social media statement where she emphasized the importance of personal well-being. Despite assurances, she did not feel completely secure given the current circumstances. As a result, she made the difficult but necessary choice to prioritize her safety over participation in the tournament.
The Women’s Candidates Tournament, scheduled to begin on March 28 in Paphos, will now see Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk replacing Humpy as per FIDE regulations. This tournament is crucial as it will determine the contender for the world championship title currently held by China’s Ju Wenjun. Meanwhile, the men’s title is held by India’s D Gukesh.
American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has also raised concerns about the playing conditions in Cyprus ahead of the 2026 Candidates Tournament. Nakamura, currently ranked World No. 2, highlighted ongoing power outages on the island as a troubling issue leading up to the prestigious event.
