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GM Koneru Humpy withdraws from FIDE Women’s Candidates
Updated On: 23 March, 2026 08:58 AM IST | New Delhi | IANS
Earlier, American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has expressed serious concerns about the playing conditions in Cyprus before the 2026 Candidates Tournament, which starts in just a week.

Koneru Humpy. Pic/PTI
Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has withdrawn from the upcoming FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament due to security concerns amid rising tensions in West Asia.
Humpy shared her decision in a social media statement on Sunday, emphasizing that personal safety is more important than competitive commitments. “After deep reflection, I have made 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 circumstances. This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it,” she wrote on X.

