GM Koneru Humpy has announced her withdrawal from the FIDE Women’s Candidates, citing safety concerns ahead of the event in Cyprus. She is replaced by GM Anna Muzychuk, who said she is surprised and thankful for the opportunity to fight for the title.
On Sunday, Koneru confirmed her decision to withdraw from the prestigious tournament, which is set to begin in Paphos, Cyprus, on March 29. The winner will challenge reigning Women’s World Champion, GM Ju Wenjun, in a match for the title.
“After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament,” she wrote in a post on X. “No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances. This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it.”
Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances.
—Koneru Humpy
After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament.
No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current…
— Koneru Humpy (@humpy_koneru) March 22, 2026
Her decision comes just days after she initially revealed her concerns about safety as tensions escalate in the Middle East following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. A suspected Iranian drone struck a UK base on Cyprus’ southern coast in early March, causing minor damage but no casualties.
The strikes have disrupted travel in some of the world’s busiest hubs in the Middle East, forcing sporting events in the area to be canceled.Â
“Over this past week, I had a lot of discussions on this subject with people I know,” Koneru told Hindustan Times. “I was also closely following all the updates around the war. I just didn’t find the idea of playing under such conditions comfortable, despite all the assurances.”
I just didn’t find the idea of playing under such conditions comfortable, despite all the assurances.
—Koneru Humpy
The Indian grandmaster said she had to prioritize her well-being and safety given that she could not be provided a guarantee.Â
“Cyprus is a beautiful island and I’d love to play there when the situation improves. But to hold such a major tournament when so much is happening around it just doesn’t feel like the right thing to do,” she told the Indian newspaper. “I don’t think I’d be in the frame of mind to play when there’s so much uncertainty.”
Koneru remains the only player in the Women’s Candidates, or the FIDE Candidates Tournament, to publicly express concerns about their own safety.
However, GM Hikaru Nakamura wrote in a tweet on Saturday that he experienced a power outage on the island.
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….
— Hikaru Nakamura (@GMHikaru) March 21, 2026
Koneru’s withdrawal follows discussions with FIDE over the past week, with Sunday set as the deadline for her final decision. The chess governing body has reiterated that the tournament will go ahead as planned, while acknowledging that they are monitoring the situation.
Muzychuk has accepted the invitation to replace Koneru in the eight-player field. The Ukrainian is a former Women’s Rapid and Blitz World Champion but, unlike her sister GM Mariya Muzychuk, has never won the classical world title. The women’s world number-eight qualifies as the next highest finisher in the Women’s Events Series 2024–25, where the eight players above her were the original Candidates.
Anna Muzychuk has good memories of Cyprus, since she won the Nicosia Women’s Grand Prix there almost exactly a year ago. She then also won the final Grosslobming Grand Prix, but missed out on a Candidates spot by a tiny margin to GM Aleksandra Goryachkina—everything was decided in a turbulent final round.Â
“I’m very surprised and thankful for getting this chance to fight for the title. It means a lot to me,” Muzychuk said in a comment to Chess.com.
I’m very surprised and thankful for getting this chance to fight for the title. It means a lot to me
—Anna Muzychuk
Muzychuk has played in the last three Women’s Candidates, finishing runner-up to Goryachkina in 2019, reaching the Semifinals of a knockout in 2022/3 (after beating Koneru in the Quarterfinals), and finishing winless in last place in Toronto in 2024.
“Obviously I don’t have much time to prepare directly against the players of the tournament, but let’s hope that my general work on chess and a lot of experience of participation in the top level events compensate it,” she said.
“In any case two days ago I wasn’t the player of the Candidates and didn’t have any chances in this cycle. Now I do.”
Koneru’s withdrawal from the Women’s Candidates echoes March 2020, when GM Teimour Radjabov pulled out of the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020-2021 in Yekaterinburg, Russia due to COVID-19 concerns. He was replaced by GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, but the tournament was suspended midway, and only resumed in April 2021. As compensation, Radjabov was given a spot in the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022.Â