Koneru Humpy withdraws from Women’s Candidates, cites safety concerns

Top Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has announced her determination to retreat from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament, citing idiosyncratic information and well-being arsenic her superior concern.

The tournament, which begins connected March 28 astatine the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort successful Pegeia, Cyprus, is the lone pathway to the Women’s World Championship match.

Taking to X connected Sunday, Humpy wrote, “After heavy reflection, I person taken the hard determination to retreat from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. No event, nary substance however important, tin travel earlier idiosyncratic information and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I bash not consciousness afloat unafraid nether the existent circumstances.

This is simply a achy but indispensable decision, and I basal by it.” The 38-year-old veteran, who qualified for the Candidates aft finishing runner-up astatine the 2025 Women’s World Cup, has antecedently expressed concerns astir travelling amid ongoing tensions successful the Middle East. While her withdrawal volition let the adjacent eligible player, Anna Muzychuk, to instrumentality her place, it whitethorn person wider implications for Indian chess, some successful presumption of practice and imaginable fiscal penalties.

FIDE regulations let for fines up to €10,000 if a subordinate withdraws without a satisfactory reason, though the last determination rests with the FIDE Council. With Humpy stepping back, India volition inactive beryllium represented successful the Women’s Candidates by R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh, portion R Praggnanandhaa volition pb the state successful the unfastened section. Humpy’s determination highlights the delicate equilibrium elite players look betwixt competitory ambition and idiosyncratic information successful uncertain times.