"Bad move": Cyprus chess chief hits back at Koneru Humpy after Candidates pull-out Top Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has withdrawn from the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, citing concerns about her personal safety during the event. Her decision has drawn strong criticism from the Cyprus Chess Federation, which dismissed her claims as unfounded and emphasized the importance of the tournament as a critical pathway to the Women’s World Championship. Humpy, who qualified for the event after finishing runner-up at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, stated on social media that she had made the difficult choice to withdraw “after deep reflection.” She emphasized that her decision was driven by a commitment to her safety and well-being, despite assurances from organizers. “No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being,” she wrote, adding that the situation left her feeling “unsecure” under current circumstances. The Cyprus Chess Federation strongly rejected her reasoning, calling it a “bad move” and accusing her of spreading misinformation. A spokesperson for the federation stated that the tournament is “one of the largest and most important chess events in the world” and that decisions at such a high level should be based on “calculation and facts,” not fear or unfounded concerns. The federation warned that Humpy’s withdrawal could lead to consequences, including potential fines under FIDE rules, if her reasoning is not accepted. With Humpy’s absence, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk has been confirmed as her replacement in the tournament. India will still have representation through players R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh in the women’s category. In the open category, R Praggnanandhaa will be the sole Indian flagbearer.#konneru_humpy #cyprus_chess_federation #anna_muzychuk #r_vaishali #divya_deshmukh
