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Why did Humpy Koneru withdraw?

Does anybody know why Humpy Koneru withdrew from the Candidates tournament?
If so please explain as I couldn’t find any explanation online
Thanks

Does anybody know why Humpy Koneru withdrew from the Candidates tournament? If so please explain as I couldn’t find any explanation online Thanks

@MR_Halaand said ^

Does anybody know why Humpy Koneru withdrew from the Candidates tournament?
If so please explain as I couldn’t find any explanation online
Thanks

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/chess/koneru-humpy-withdraws-from-womens-candidates-cites-safety-concerns/articleshow/129736372.cms

Humpy wrote, “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 circumstances.

@MR_Halaand said [^](/forum/redirect/post/4s4gewYT) > Does anybody know why Humpy Koneru withdrew from the Candidates tournament? > If so please explain as I couldn’t find any explanation online > Thanks https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/chess/koneru-humpy-withdraws-from-womens-candidates-cites-safety-concerns/articleshow/129736372.cms Humpy wrote, “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 circumstances.

In its own announcement, FIDE did not bother to say a single word about her reasons for the withdrawal.

In [its own announcement](https://www.fide.com/humpy-koneru-withdraws-from-fide-womens-candidates-2026-anna-muzychuk-named-replacement/), FIDE did not bother to say a single word about her reasons for the withdrawal.

@mkubecek said ^

In its own announcement, FIDE did not bother to say a single word about her reasons for the withdrawal.

Why would they? It's not their place to say that.

Humpy posted her own message about her withdrawal.

@mkubecek said [^](/forum/redirect/post/EbamHPM7) > In [its own announcement](https://www.fide.com/humpy-koneru-withdraws-from-fide-womens-candidates-2026-anna-muzychuk-named-replacement/), FIDE did not bother to say a single word about her reasons for the withdrawal. Why would they? It's not their place to say that. Humpy posted her own message about her withdrawal.

@RuyLopez1000 said ^

Why would they? It's not their place to say that.

I'm pretty sure if it was for a different reason, one that would be less embarrassing for FIDE, the reason would have been mentioned, just as it almost always is in announcements like this. But as it's something FIDE does not want to talk about...

@RuyLopez1000 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/u8AxrnNa) > Why would they? It's not their place to say that. I'm pretty sure if it was for a different reason, one that would be less embarrassing for FIDE, the reason would have been mentioned, just as it almost always is in announcements like this. But as it's something FIDE does not want to talk about...

@mkubecek said ^

Why would they? It's not their place to say that.

I'm pretty sure if it was for a different reason, one that would be less embarrassing for FIDE, the reason would have been mentioned, just as it almost always is in announcements like this. But as it's something FIDE does not want to talk about...

I agree that they didn't mention it because of the reason.

If they said Humpy is withdrawing because she "does not feel fully secure under the current circumstances" then it would be weird because they'd be making themselves look bad and also because they clearly don't agree with this assessment as they are still planning to host the Candidates there.

It's not embarrasing for FIDE because they didn't do anything wrong.

There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment and no need to move the venue.

“Of course, there was some alarming news like 10 days ago or something like that. Since then, the situation seems to be rather quiet, but we are not just, you know, relying on the assumption that nothing will happen. We monitor and we are in touch also with government officials.”

“We plan for scenarios, no matter how unlikely they are. It is our firm belief that the current situation does not
provide any grounds or any reasonable reasons to actually postpone or to remove the event from Cyprus.”

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, March 14th, Chessbase India Interview, Indian Express

@mkubecek said [^](/forum/redirect/post/xiKJknMj) > > Why would they? It's not their place to say that. > > I'm pretty sure if it was for a different reason, one that would be less embarrassing for FIDE, the reason would have been mentioned, just as it almost always is in announcements like this. But as it's something FIDE does not want to talk about... I agree that they didn't mention it because of the reason. If they said Humpy is withdrawing because she "does not feel fully secure under the current circumstances" then it would be weird because they'd be making themselves look bad and also because they clearly don't agree with this assessment as they are still planning to host the Candidates there. It's not embarrasing for FIDE because they didn't do anything wrong. There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment and no need to move the venue. >“Of course, there was some alarming news like 10 days ago or something like that. Since then, the situation seems to be rather quiet, but we are not just, you know, relying on the assumption that nothing will happen. We monitor and we are in touch also with government officials.” >“We plan for scenarios, no matter how unlikely they are. It is our firm belief that the current situation does not provide any grounds or any reasonable reasons to actually postpone or to remove the event from Cyprus.” >>FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, March 14th, Chessbase India Interview, Indian Express

@RuyLopez1000 said ^

It's not embarrasing for FIDE because they didn't do anything wrong.

If it were not embarrassing, they wouldn't be embarrassed to mention the reason, just like everyone else does. And just like they would do as well if the reason was e.g. a medical condition.

There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment and no need to move the venue.

Sure, it sounds much better than "It's a serious problem but relocating or rescheduling the event would cost us a lot of money so we'll go on and hope nothing bad happens."

@RuyLopez1000 said [^](/forum/redirect/post/s7e084HG) > It's not embarrasing for FIDE because they didn't do anything wrong. If it were not embarrassing, they wouldn't be embarrassed to mention the reason, just like everyone else does. And just like they would do as well if the reason was e.g. a medical condition. > There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment and no need to move the venue. Sure, it sounds much better than "*It's a serious problem but relocating or rescheduling the event would cost us a lot of money so we'll go on and hope nothing bad happens.*"

@mkubecek

There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment and no need to move the venue.

Sure, it sounds much better than "It's a serious problem but relocating or rescheduling the event would cost us a lot of money so we'll go on and hope nothing bad happens."

Why is it a serious problem?

FIDE is in contact with the government of Cyprus. They see no threat.

What is your justification for saying that it is a 'serious problem'?

@mkubecek > > There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment and no need to move the venue. > > Sure, it sounds much better than "*It's a serious problem but relocating or rescheduling the event would cost us a lot of money so we'll go on and hope nothing bad happens.*" Why is it a serious problem? FIDE is in contact with the government of Cyprus. They see no threat. What is your justification for saying that it is a 'serious problem'?

MIGHT BE A serious problem or something for humpy

MIGHT BE A serious problem or something for humpy

"There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment"

  • The United States use the British base of Akrotiri on Cyprus to attack Iran.
    Iran already retaliated with a drone towards Cyprus, but it was intercepted.
    The other players do not perceive this as a danger.
    A similar event was Radjabov not playing in 2020 as he perceived the risk of COVID.

Apart from that an airplane from India to Cyprus has to fly over war zones.
Praggnanandhaa apparently does not perceive this as a risk, or flies from elsewhere.

"There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment" * The United States use the British base of Akrotiri on Cyprus to attack Iran. Iran already retaliated with a drone towards Cyprus, but it was intercepted. The other players do not perceive this as a danger. A similar event was Radjabov not playing in 2020 as he perceived the risk of COVID. Apart from that an airplane from India to Cyprus has to fly over war zones. Praggnanandhaa apparently does not perceive this as a risk, or flies from elsewhere.