Mastrokoukos on the Humpy Koneru Candidates story, “The attempts to frame a buzzing EU country as a warzone are unfortunate”
With the Candidates Chess 2026 starting this week in Paphsos, Cyprus, tension around the tournament is rising. At stake is not only the challenger’s spot, but also the smooth running of the tournament. Humpy Koneru shared she does not feel safe there and withdrew from the women section of the event. In a TOI exclusive, Humpy Koneru said, “If [FIDE] feels Cyprus is right [for the Candidates], they should also conduct tournaments in places like Jammu & Kashmir”
The outspoken organizer, International Master, and chess commentator George Mastrokoukos shares his opinion on the Humpy Koneru Candidates 2026 story. “I am no supporter of FIDE’s Kremlin representatives, but attempts to frame a thriving EU country as a “warzone” are unfortunate and, frankly, amateurish. This is especially misleading given that Cyprus is backed by the military strength of NATO members such as the UK and Greece. Moreover, the host city of Paphos is located on the opposite side of the island.”
Mastrokoukos continues, “If we follow this logic, then what should people do about Iran’s missile capabilities, which can reach as far as London? Cancel events and daily life worldwide to appease fear-driven narratives and propaganda? This is an overreaction fueled by unnecessary and often misleading drama.”
Candidates Chess 2026 live / Anna Muzychuk enters the Candidates / Who qualifies for the Candidates, if a player withdraws?
While risks remain low for the players and the tournament, there is no public contingency plan by FIDE regarding a possible force majeure. We can only speculate whether such plan exists, but the lack of communication becomes a breeding ground for speculation regarding the future of the Candidates.
At the same time some events are getting canceled in Cyprus. Recent announcements from the World Series of Poker (including posts on their official X/Twitter and Instagram accounts) confirm the cancellation of the WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus, originally scheduled for April 25 to May 11, 2026, at the Merit Royal Diamond in Karavas, Cyprus.
- EU Council Presidency meetings and events (Cyprus holds the rotating EU presidency in 2026): All in-person ministerial and preparatory meetings scheduled in Cyprus for March 2026 were canceled or shifted to virtual format/rescheduled due to security risks, flight disruptions, and the regional crisis. This followed the earlier postponement of an informal EU affairs ministers’ meeting (originally March 2-3) and affected gatherings like culture, defense, telecommunications, Ecofin, and research councils. An informal European Council with EU leaders planned for April 23-24 remains on schedule so far, but the situation is fluid.
- UN Peacekeeping exhibition and related event: The “Through Her Lens” global UN exhibition launch (featuring photos on women in peacebuilding), set for early March 2026 in Nicosia with a panel discussion and Q&A at the UN Info Shop on Ledra Street, was postponed to a later date due to “unforeseen circumstances” tied to the conflict.
- Junior tennis tournament: A junior ITF event in Cyprus was canceled amid broader safety concerns from the regional escalation (similar to cancellations of ITF events in nearby Turkey).
- Mass tourism and holiday bookings: No major festivals, conferences, or cultural events appear fully canceled island-wide beyond these, but there’s widespread impact on tourism—hotels (especially in Limassol and Paphos) report 25-30% cancellations for March (and some for April), driven by traveler fears, flight chaos to/from Middle East hubs, and advisories. European flights mostly resumed, but many from Israel, Lebanon, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan remain disrupted or canceled. Businesses note panic-driven holiday drops despite no full “do not travel” warnings from most governments (e.g., UK FCDO hasn’t banned non-essential travel, but US raised to “Reconsider Travel” Level 3).
The root issues are flight cancellations (dozens at Larnaca and Paphos airports in early March), airspace closures over the region, and heightened security after the Akrotiri drone incident. No broad shutdown of all events (e.g., some local or ongoing activities continue), but international/logistics-heavy ones are hit hardest.