Koneru Humpy Withdraws From Women's Candidates
Koneru Humpy withdraws from Women’s Candidates
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the chess world, Koneru Humpy, India’s all‑time great and two‑time Women’s World Rapid Champion, has officially withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, scheduled to begin on March 28 in Pegeia, Cyprus. The 38‑year‑old veteran announced her decision on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, writing:
Humpy, who qualified by finishing runner‑up at the 2025 Women’s World Cup, had already voiced concerns about travelling to Cyprus after a drone strike on a British air base earlier this month. Her decision makes her the first player from either the open or women’s sections to pull out of the Candidates, throwing the event into a new phase of uncertainty.
Humpy’s fears were not abstract. On March 1, a drone struck the British Akrotiri air base in Cyprus, a direct hit on the island that escalated regional tensions after the outbreak of war between Israel, Iran, and the United States on February 28. Since then, European warships and Turkish fighter jets have been deployed to patrol the waters around Cyprus, placing the island under a heightened state of alert.
Cyprus lies just 160 km west of Lebanon and less than 300 km from the Syrian coast – uncomfortably close to the conflict zone. In earlier interviews, Humpy had said: “You should be in a position to play the game in a peaceful and a good atmosphere. Not surrounded by bomb or missile sirens.”
FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky repeatedly insisted that the tournament would go ahead, stating: “Cyprus is not in a state of war. We don’t see anything even remotely dangerous enough to consider moving it.” But for Humpy, those assurances were not enough.
- 1 March 2026: Drone strike on Akrotiri air base; alarm spreads among players.
- 15‑16 March: Humpy tells Indian media she is “likely to withdraw,” questioning FIDE’s choice of venue.
- 22 March: Humpy makes withdrawal official on X, stressing personal safety over sporting ambition.
Just hours before her announcement, Humpy had retweeted a post by Hikaru Nakamura, who is already in Cyprus for pre‑tournament training. Nakamura wrote: “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.”
With Humpy’s exit, the next eligible player in the qualification standings will take her place: Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine, a former world rapid champion and a seasoned campaigner who finished fourth in the 2025 Women’s World Cup. The updated Women’s Candidates field now stands as:
| Player | Country | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Anna Muzychuk | Ukraine | Replacement (4th, World Cup) |
| R Vaishali | India | FIDE Circuit |
| Divya Deshmukh | India | Grand Swiss |
| Aleksandra Goryachkina | Russia | Rating |
| Kateryna Lagno | Russia | Rating |
| Tan Zhongyi | China | World Cup |
| Zhu Jiner | China | Rating |
| Bibisara Assaubayeva | Kazakhstan | Grand Swiss |
India will still be represented by R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh, while in the open section R Praggnanandhaa carries the nation’s hopes.
FIDE regulations allow for fines up to €10,000 if a player withdraws without a “satisfactory reason”. The FIDE Council will decide whether Humpy’s safety concerns qualify. Many observers note that the situation echoes the 2020 Candidates in Yekaterinburg, where Teimour Radjabov withdrew citing COVID‑19 fears. He was replaced by Maxime Vachier‑Lagrave, who then finished joint first.
— Ian Nepomniachtchi
The precedent is a warning: a new entrant can upset all carefully laid preparation. Humpy’s absence may thus ripple beyond the Indian contingent.
The Indian Express’s Amit Kamath wrote: “If Humpy eventually pulls out, the situation will end up leaving everyone unhappy. Humpy … is understandably displeased. The rest of the seven players too will not be happy … considering how much planning goes into drawing up war plans for every opponent at the event only to find out that a new wildcard challenger has been introduced.”
Former world champion Viswanathan Anand expressed support for Humpy’s decision, telling ChessBase India: “Safety has to come first. I hope FIDE takes this as a signal to review the security protocols.”
On social media, reactions were split: some applauded her courage, others lamented the loss of a top contender. The hashtag #HumpyWithdraws trended on chess Twitter throughout the day.
The Women’s Candidates will now proceed with Anna Muzychuk in the field. The opening ceremony is set for March 28, with the first round on March 29. FIDE has stated that it will continue to monitor the situation daily and has arranged alternative travel routes for players via London, Vienna, and Frankfurt.
Whether other players will follow Humpy’s lead remains uncertain. For Humpy herself, the decision likely closes her final realistic chance at a world championship match. She turned 38 on the day the third round would have been played.
In her parting words on X, she wrote: “I will miss the chance, but family and health come first. I stand by my decision.”
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