As of March 22, 2026, Koneru Humpy (FIDE rating 2576) has not officially withdrawn from the Women’s Candidates Tournament but is publicly considering doing so over safety concerns at the venue in Cyprus. Humpy, India’s two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion, is one of three Indian players in the Women’s Candidates 2026 field.
The tournament is scheduled for March 28 to April 16 at Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. The winner earns the right to challenge Ju Wenjun for the Women’s World Chess Championship.
What Humpy said
Humpy has publicly questioned the decision to hold the event in Cyprus given the current security situation in the Eastern Mediterranean. US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran, and the fallout has reached Cyprus directly — a suspected Iranian drone struck a UK military base on the island’s southern coast, causing minor damage.
“When there is a 10 or 20 per cent risk in playing in Cyprus, what was the necessity to hold the event in that place?” Humpy said.
Her concern is straightforward: she is not willing to accept even a low probability of danger at a chess tournament. Given her stature in the game — a former women’s world title challenger, FIDE-rated GM, and one of the most experienced players in the field — her stance carries weight.
The safety situation in Cyprus
The Eastern Mediterranean has been affected by escalating tensions between the US-Israel coalition and Iran. Military strikes on Iranian targets have raised the threat level across the region. The drone incident at a UK military base on Cyprus’ southern coast, while causing only minor damage, demonstrated that the island is not entirely removed from the conflict zone.
Cyprus itself has not been a direct party to the hostilities. The incident involved a suspected stray or misdirected drone rather than a deliberate attack on Cypriot territory. Still, for players and their teams traveling from across the world, the proximity to active military operations is a legitimate factor in assessing risk.
FIDE’s response
FIDE has stated that the Candidates Tournament 2026 proceeds as planned. The federation’s position is that there is “no emergency in the country” and that it has received “strong assurances at the highest level” regarding the safety of the event.
To address player concerns, FIDE is offering alternative travel arrangements with all expenses covered. This includes routing players through different airports or travel corridors to avoid areas of heightened tension.
The Chess.com coverage and Chessbase’s interview with FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky have both reported on the federation’s contingency planning. FIDE’s stance is clear: the tournament will go ahead, and the federation will support any player who needs adjusted logistics.
What it means for India
India has three of the eight players in the Women’s Candidates — an unprecedented level of representation. Alongside Humpy, Vaishali Rameshbabu and Divya Deshmukh round out the Indian contingent. No other country has more than two players in the field.
If Humpy withdraws, India drops from three players to two. That is still strong representation, but the loss is significant. Humpy brings experience that neither Vaishali nor Divya can replicate — she has competed at the highest level of women’s chess for over two decades. Her presence in the Candidates would have given India three distinct chances at a World Championship challenge.
The situation also raises a broader question about venue selection for major FIDE events. Player safety is non-negotiable, and Humpy’s willingness to voice her concerns publicly may influence how future events are planned.
Women’s Candidates 2026 field
The eight-player double round-robin features:
- Koneru Humpy (India) — two-time Women’s World Rapid Champion
- Vaishali Rameshbabu (India) — two-time Women’s Grand Swiss winner
- Divya Deshmukh (India) — Women’s World Cup 2025 champion
- Aleksandra Goryachkina (FIDE) — former Women’s World Championship challenger
- Kateryna Lagno (FIDE) — three-time Women’s World Blitz Champion
- Tan Zhongyi (China) — former Women’s World Champion
- Zhu Jiner (China) — rising Chinese GM
- Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kazakhstan) — youngest Women’s World Blitz Champion at the time of her title
The tournament runs 14 rounds over three weeks. The winner faces Ju Wenjun, the reigning five-time Women’s World Chess Champion.
Follow the Candidates live
The Women’s Candidates 2026 begins March 28 in Cyprus — assuming all eight players take their seats. Follow live standings, round results, and game replays at shatranj.live/candidates.
Track all Indian players at FIDE events on Shatranj Live.
Status current as of March 22, 2026. Sources: Chess.com, FIDE, ChessBase.
