Top Chess Player Withdraws from Candidates Tournament Due to Safety Concerns in Cyprus
March 23, 2026
Top chess player Koneru Hampi from India withdrew from the Candidates Tournament 2026 in Cyprus due to safety concerns. She expressed that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East made her feel unsafe. The tournament is scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 16 at the Cap St Georges Hotel in Paphos. Anna Muzychuk from Ukraine will replace her. A proposal by a German billionaire to move the tournament to Germany was rejected.