German entrepreneur offers to host Candidates tournament amid safety concerns Bengaluru: Following reports that Indian chess grandmaster Koneru Humpy may withdraw from the Candidates tournament in Cyprus due to safety concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, German entrepreneur Wadim Rosenstein has proposed hosting the event in Germany. The Candidates tournament, originally scheduled for Cyprus between March 28 and April 16, now faces uncertainty as the situation in the region grows volatile. Rosenstein, a chess enthusiast and founder of WR Group, has expressed his willingness to step in and ensure the tournament proceeds safely. In a statement shared on X, he emphasized the importance of providing a secure environment for all participants. “With Koneru Humpy reportedly considering her participation in the Candidates tour, it becomes even more critical to guarantee a safe and stable setting for all players,” he wrote. He assured Fide of his readiness to host the event, stating that all organizational and logistical costs would be covered by WR Chess. Rosenstein, who runs the WR Masters Chess tournament in his hometown of Dusseldorf, has a history of collaboration with Fide. In 2023, he co-launched the World Rapid Team Championships, a tournament open to clubs worldwide and featuring both Grandmasters and amateur players. The inaugural edition was won by his team, WR Chess, and the event later expanded to include a blitz format, becoming the World Rapid and Blitz Team Championships. Magnus Carlsen, the world No. 1, is expected to return as part of the WR Chess team this year. The Candidates tournament, which is set to begin just days after the proposed relocation, remains a pivotal event in the chess calendar.#cyprus #konneru_humpy #wadim_rosenstein #wr_group #fide
