FIDE confirm Koneru Humpy's replacement after Indian GM withdraws from Women's Candidates 2026 due to security concerns

Indian GM Koneru Humpy withdrew from the Women's Candidates 2026 on Sunday, due to security concerns.

Published on: Mar 23, 2026, 16:59:53 IST

Written by Neelav Chakravarti

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Due to Koneru Humpy's late withdrawal from the upcoming Women's Candidates 2026, FIDE have announced Anna Muzychuk as her replacement. Humpy withdrew from the tournament on Sunday due to growing concerns about the ongoing Gulf conflict. The tournament will be held in Cyprus, and on March 1, a British air base in the country was hit.

Koneru Humpy withdrew from the Women's Candidates 2026 due to security concerns. (@PiyushGoyal X)

The pairings will remain the same, with Muzychuk taking Humpy's place. A FIDE statement confirmed, "Humpy Koneru (India) has officially withdrawn from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament 2026, scheduled to take place in Cyprus from March 28 to April 16."

Also Read: Koneru Humpy withdraws from Candidates due to safety fears

"In accordance with Article 2.2. of the Tournament Regulations, her place has been offered to the next highest finisher in the Women’s Events Series 2024–25 not securing qualification. As a result, Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) will join the tournament as her replacement," the statement further added.

The winner of the tournament will take on reigning women's world champion Ju Wenjun. Other than Muzychuk, India's Divya Deshmukh and R Vaishali will be participating, along with Zhu Jiner and Aleksandra Goryachkina (top two finishers in the Women's Grand Prix 2024-25), Tan Zhongyi (third-place at the World Cup 2025), Kateryna Lagna (runner-up at Women's Grand Swiss 2025), and Bibisara Assaubayeva (highest place in FIDE Women's Events 2024-25).

Even other players have expressed concerns, including American GM Hikaru Nakamura, who pointed out the recent power outages in Cyprus. But FIDE have clarified that the venue remains unchanged. Speaking to ChessBase India, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky said, "Our plans have not changed. We are in the final stages of preparing the Candidates’ Tournament. Of course, we are monitoring the situation. Cyprus is not too far from, let’s say, the war zone or conflict zone, but at the same time, it is not directly involved in any way and is not in a state of war."

"There is no emergency situation or anything like that. Of course, about ten days ago there were some worrying news, but since then the situation has appeared quite calm."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neelav Chakravarti
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results. A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.Read More

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