Our Bureau
New Delhi
Indian chess star Koneru Humpy has pulled out of the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, citing safety concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The prestigious eight-player event, which will decide the challenger for the Women’s World Championship, is scheduled to be held in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16.
Humpy, one of India’s most decorated chess players and a former world title holder, announced her withdrawal on social media, saying she “does not feel fully secure” about travelling to Cyprus under current conditions. The island lies close to the wider Middle East region, where tensions have been high after recent military incidents, including a strike on a British air base in Cyprus earlier this month.
In response, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) has named Ukrainian grandmaster Anna Muzychuk as Humpy’s replacement. FIDE said Muzychuk, one of the top women players in the world, has been invited under tournament rules that allow the next‑highest finisher from the 2024–25 Women’s Events Series to step in when a qualified player withdraws. The pairings will remain unchanged, with Muzychuk taking Humpy’s slot in the lineup.
The decision means three Indians, Harika Dronavalli, Vaishali R. and Gukesh D., will still be in the Candidates, though Humpy’s absence will be felt by many fans who saw her as a strong title contender. Humpy insisted that personal safety must come before any competition, calling her choice a “difficult decision” but one she had to take.
