Koneru Humpy Withdraws from Candidates 2026 Chess Tournament Over Safety Concerns

Koneru Humpy's Withdrawal from Candidates 2026

Indian chess player Koneru Humpy has made the decision to withdraw from the upcoming Candidates 2026 tournament, citing safety issues due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia involving the USA, Iran, and Israel. In a statement shared on X, she expressed, "After careful consideration, I have made the tough choice to step back from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. No event, regardless of its significance, can take precedence over my personal safety and well-being. Despite the reassurances given, I do not feel entirely secure in the current situation. This is a difficult yet essential decision, and I stand by it."

Humpy's announcement follows a comment from Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who raised concerns about a power outage in Cyprus earlier that day. He noted, "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...." on X.