Koneru Humpy withdraws from Women’s Candidates, cites safety concerns

2026-03-22 - 17:49

Top Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy has withdrawn from the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament, prioritizing her personal safety and well-being. Citing security concerns despite assurances, Humpy's decision opens a spot for Anna Muzychuk. While India retains representation with R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh, Humpy's withdrawal raises questions about potential FIDE penalties and impacts Indian chess.