Humpy Koneru after the Candidates exit, “Will FIDE hold events in Kashmir?”

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”

Multiple events in Cyprus are getting canceled, including WSOP and more. Hikaru Nakamura, who participates in the open section of the Candidates 2026, noted, “It’s not a good sign when power goes out completely in parts of Cyprus and doesn’t come back for an extended period of time,” thus showing understanding and support to Humpy Koneru.