FIDE rattled by Cyprus safety fears, rushes out FAQ to calm Candidates 2026 players: ‘There is no emergency...'

Rattled by safety and infrastructure questions surrounding Cyprus days ahead of the prestigious Fide Candidates 2026 chess tournament, Fide has released a detailed FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to allay fears around the hosting venue and answer some of the major concerns among players and fans. The Mediterranean Sea island Cyprus' proximity to the ongoing war in West Asia and attacks on British military bases in the country from Iran have raised fears that hosting the Fide Candidates during the period of turmoil could lead to a disaster.

Indian chess star Koneru Humpy has already pulled out from the Women's Candidates that starts from 28 March in Cyprus. World No 2 Hikaru Nakamura, who is seen as favourite to win Fide Candidates 2026, has also recently questioned the lack of power supply in Cyprus.

Fide FAQ as Cyprus Candidates controversy grows

Amid heightened scrutiny and criticism for picking Cyprus as the venue for the Candidates, Fide has now released a detailed FAQ, essentially communicating that it's safe to travel to the country currently amid the ongoing USA-Iran war and that power outages on the island last merely a few minutes.

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The "Cyprus. Safety & Logistics FAQ" has been published on the Fide Candidates 2026 website. The first question is whether it is "safe to travel to and stay in Cyprus given the current situation in the Middle East region?"

Also Read | Koneru Humpy opens up on decision to withdraw from Candidates 2026: 'External uncertainties can make it...'

The Fide's said that all necessary measures are in place to ensure the safety of participants, guests and media and that the country is not facing any emergency.

"Yes. Cyprus is a safe country to travel," Fide said. "There is no emergency situation, and the country continues to operate normally. The Organising Committee is in constant coordination with the relevant national authorities and benefits from full support at the highest level. All necessary measures are in place to ensure a secure, comfortable, and well-organised environment for all participants, media, and guests."

Next question was: "Is there any risk of power outages during the tournament?"

Fide's reply: "No. The risk is extremely low and overstated. Power shortages in Cyprus are very rare and typically short-lived. For example, a recent incident, which caused outages in some areas of Cyprus on March 13, lasted only several minutes before full restoration. In addition, the tournament venue - Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort - is fully equipped with backup power generators, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the event."

Fide also said that it has a "contingency plan" in place in case the situation changes and that the safety of the participants, guests and media will be prioritised.

"FIDE has contingency plans in place, as with any major international event," it added. "We remain ready to respond promptly to any changes in circumstances, with the safety and comfort of players, officials, media, and guests as the top priority."

The detailed FAQ on safety and logistic provisions in Cyprus can be found here.