Indian GM Koneru Humpy shared her thoughts on withdrawing from the FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 in an interview with The Times of India on May 13. Koneru says she has no regrets about her decision, and explains she did not want her loved ones to worry.

Koneru Humpy

Koneru Humpy

Indian GM

“It’s more important that I should love the sport when I play a tournament. I shouldn’t feel like I’m keeping my family or my near and dear ones under pressure when I am traveling somewhere.

I have no regrets of not playing in that tournament because the scenarios when I withdrew were entirely different.”

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2026 took place from March 28 to April 16 at the Cap St Georges Hotel and Resort in Pegeia, Cyprus. Indian GM Koneru Humpy withdrew from the event, citing personal security concerns. Public concerns about holding the tournament in Cyprus appeared following the start of the US-Israel war with Iran on February 28.

Credit: Lennart Ootes