Concerns Rise Over Candidates 2026 Chess Tournament Venue Amid Power Outages

The Candidates 2026 Chess Tournament is facing heightened scrutiny as players like Hikaru Nakamura and Koneru Humpy express concerns over safety and power outages in Cyprus. Despite FIDE's assurances, the ongoing regional tensions have led to calls for reconsideration of the venue. Humpy has even contemplated withdrawing from the event, highlighting the sensitivity of the situation. FIDE maintains that preparations are on track and that Cyprus remains a safe location for the tournament. This situation raises questions about the impact of external factors on major sporting events.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 22, 2026, 14:13 IST

Candidates 2026 Chess Tournament Under Scrutiny

Candidates 2026 Chess: Safety concerns regarding the venue for the Candidates 2026 Chess Tournament have escalated, despite FIDE's repeated assurances. Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura recently highlighted a power outage in Cyprus, raising alarms. Previously, Indian chess player Koneru Humpy had voiced her worries and even contemplated withdrawing from the tournament due to security issues linked to the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Nakamura expressed his concerns on social media, stating, "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...."

Humpy echoed similar sentiments, sharing her thoughts online: "I know that alone, I may not be able to change anything. But regardless of whether I play in the Candidates, I felt it was important to express what I genuinely feel. I’m truly grateful to everyone who has shown their support. For those who cannot understand the sensitivity of this situation, I choose to leave it at that." In response, FIDE firmly dismissed the notion of relocating the event, asserting that there is nothing even "remotely dangerous" to justify such a decision.

FIDE's CEO, Emil Sutovsky, reassured that preparations for the Candidates' Tournament are in their final stages. He stated, "Our plans have not changed. Of course, we are monitoring the situation. Cyprus is not too far from, let's say, the war zone or conflict zone, but at the same time, it is not directly involved in any way and is not in a state of war." He added that while there were some concerning reports about ten days ago, the situation has since stabilized. Indian chess legend Viswanathan Anand also expressed his support for FIDE, emphasizing that the organization always strives to select the best venues for its major events.