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Koneru Humpy expresses concerns about safety in Cyprus amidst the Middle East conflict, undecided on participating in the Candidates Tournament beginning March 28.
Koneru Humpy. (PTI Photo)
World chess championship runner-up Koneru Humpy has said that, regardless of whether she would play in the Candidates, she felt it was important to express her stance on the unsafe situation in Cyprus due to the war in the Middle East.
Humpy remains undecided about competing in this month’s prestigious Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, reiterating her concerns about the host country’s safety situation amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.
The Candidates, which will determine the challengers to the world championship titles held by D Gukesh (men) and Ju Wenjun (women), is set to start on Saturday, March 28.
“I know that alone, I may not be able to change anything. But regardless of whether I play in the Candidates or not, I felt it was important to express what I genuinely feel,” Humpy tweeted on Wednesday morning.
I know that alone, I may not be able to change anything. But regardless of whether I play in the Candidates or not, 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…— Koneru Humpy (@humpy_koneru) March 18, 2026
Earlier this week, Humpy had said that she was hesitant to travel and was considering withdrawing from the tournament.
The development followed a drone attack earlier this month on a British air base in Cyprus, heightening fears that the conflict, sparked by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, could spill over and impact security on the island.
But Emil Sutovsky played down the concerns, insisting there is nothing ‘remotely dangerous’ to justify a venue change, even as Gulf countries find themselves caught in the crossfire and regional airspace remains shut.
“Our plans haven’t changed. We are in the final stages of preparing for the Candidates’ Tournament. Of course, we are monitoring the situation,” Sutovsky had said.
March 18, 2026, 11:24 IST
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