Indian chess star Koneru Humpy has stood firmly by her decision to withdraw from the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament, making it clear that no event, however prestigious, is worth ignoring serious safety concerns.
The two-time World Rapid champion pulled out of the tournament, scheduled to be held in Paphos, Cyprus, from March 28 to April 16, 2026, citing the tense security situation in the region amid the wider West Asia conflict. FIDE has since officially confirmed her withdrawal and announced Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk as her replacement.
What has really grabbed attention, though, is the way Koneru Humpy explained her decision.
“You can’t play surrounded by warships, which is guarding the island (Cyprus). If a foreigner like me and being a woman, if I have to travel and that too for such an important tournament, how can I play peacefully?” Koneru Humpy told PTI, underlining that her concern was not hypothetical panic but the basic atmosphere around the venue.
Why Koneru Humpy pulled out
Koneru Humpy is one of four Indian players participating in the Candidates, an annual event, putting her in the selected possible challengers to the Women’s World Championship this year. According to FIDE, the event will take place in Cyprus and will begin on March 28.
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The issue with Humpy was straightforward. She had no confidence that the current situation was suitable for an event of this magnitude.
This concern arose against a backdrop of increasing regional instability. The UK Government Travel Advice for Cyprus stated: “The Sovereign Base Areas Administration reported a suspected drone strike at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus; this occurred on March 2, 2026.” The U.S. Department of State (DOS) also reported that a drone had hit a building within the UK Sovereign Base Area within the same timeframe, as tensions had increased within the region leading up to the incident.
That context matters because Humpy was not speaking in a vacuum. She specifically pointed to geography and current events while explaining why she no longer felt comfortable travelling.
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“Lebanon and Israel are very close to the island – it’s hardly a 20-minute flight from Lebanon. There was even confirmation of a drone coming down on a UK base. The Cyprus president himself, in a recent discussion with the European Union, expressed concerns about the UK base on the island,” she said.
One of the main parts of Koneru’s comments was how blunt she was about possible consequences.
Withdrawing this late from a major FIDE event can come with financial penalties, but she made it clear that fear of punishment was not enough to change her mind.
“See, that’s the point. That is why the International Chess Federation FIDE keep these things (penalties) so that players will not speak out the facts. No, I’m not scared of it. I’m not playing just for money or monetary benefits. I just enjoy the sport,” Humpy said.
She also added, “The past three months, I have been working only for this tournament. I haven’t spent quality time with my daughter either. So, if a player like me is skipping the tournament, it’s not fun for me to skip such an important tournament. I’m losing a lot of things,” she said.
That part is important because it answers the obvious question people ask in situations like this: why qualify for such a huge event and then back out? Her answer is basically that she did not want to, but she felt she had to.
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Koneru Humpy On Other Competitors
Koneru Humpy also made it clear she was not trying to speak for the other competitors.
“Of course, people can question. Like, 15 players are ready to play, only you are pointing out. But it doesn’t mean that if everyone is playing, what they (organisers) are doing is right.”
“I don’t want to talk about anybody else. It’s their wish. Everybody has their own interests and concerns. So, I don’t want to talk about anybody else. It’s my choice, and it’s my opinion. And I feel absolutely right.”
Overall, Koneru Humpy is not saying every player should have withdrawn. She is saying her own decision should not be dismissed just because others chose differently.
