Cyprus Chess Federation Chief Slams Koneru Humpy, Calls Her Statement 'Misinformation'

Cyprus Chess Event: A new controversy has erupted in the chess world after Koneru Humpy pulled out of the upcoming Women’s Candidates Tournament, citing safety concerns. Her decision has now drawn a sharp response from Criton Tornaritis, who has publicly criticised the Indian Grandmaster.

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Criton Tornaritis has publicly condemned the Indian Grandmaster’s withdrawal for geopolitical reasons related to the Middle East (and specifically Cyprus’s location near the region). However, he vehemently rejects her reasoning and refers to the evidence presented as insufficient

Cyprus Chess Foundation’s President On Koneru Humpy’s Decision

“As president of the Cyprus Chess Federation, I am sincerely disappointed by Koneru Humpy’s decision to withdraw, citing that Cyprus is ‘not safe’. The 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament is one of the largest and most important chess events in the world. This is simply wrong. Spreading unfounded concerns harms the sport and shows a lack of respect for the organisers and the players involved. At the highest level of chess, decisions should be based on calculation and facts, not fear or misinformation,” he wrote on X.

These remarks by him have added fuel to an already sensitive situation, with safety becoming a key concern for some players ahead of the tournament.

Along with Koneru Humpy’s statement, Tornaritis has also responded to concerns raised by American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who had earlier pointed out possible infrastructure issues in Cyprus, saying, “It’s not a good sign when power goes out completely in parts of Cyprus and doesn’t come back for an extended period of time.”

To this, Tornaritis replied, “As president of the Cyprus Chess Federation, I’m genuinely curious where you read that, because it certainly doesn’t reflect the reality in Cyprus. And just to be clear, there are no ‘electricity cuts across Cyprus’ in general. Perhaps there’s been some confusion with another country?”

Koneru Humpy Stands Firm On Her Decision

Even after such controversies and responses, Koneru Humpy stood firm by her decision, making it clear that her safety is above everything.

She remarked, “After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances. This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it.”