Koneru Humpy’s Fide Candidates fears validated as another Cyprus event gets cancelled: 'Most responsible decision...'

India’s top chess player Koneru Humpy may have taken a difficult decision by pulling out of the FIDE Women's Candidates Tournament 2026, but recent developments in Cyprus suggest that her fears might not have been misplaced.

Humpy had announced her withdrawal from the eight-player tournament citing safety concerns because of the tensions in West Asia. At that time, some people questioned the move. However, just a day later, another major sporting event in Cyprus has been cancelled due to the same concerns.

Poker event cancelled in Cyprus

The WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus, which was scheduled to take place from April 25 to May 11, has now been cancelled. The organisers said the decision was taken because of the ongoing uncertainties in the region and concerns about the safety of players and staff.

In a statement, the organisers said the safety of everyone involved was their top priority and that cancelling the event was the most responsible decision at this time. They also expressed hope that WSOP events would return to Cyprus in the future when the situation becomes more stable.

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This is the second major event that has been cancelled in Cyprus in recent times after the postponement of WPT Cyprus earlier. Cyprus has been in the spotlight recently due to tensions in the Middle East. The island hosts NATO bases, which are used by the US forces and their allies, and there have been reports of drone strikes targeting those bases.

Despite the concerns, Humpy’s withdrawal could still lead to a fine. According to rules mentioned in the FIDE handbook for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, a player who withdraws after signing the contract may face a fine of up to 10,000 Euros if the reason is not considered satisfactory. There has been no official confirmation yet on whether this rule will be applied in Humpy’s case.

Meanwhile, another chess star Hikaru Nakamura also raised concerns about the situation in Cyprus. Posting on social media platform X, Nakamura said there were power outages in parts of the island where he was conducting a pre-tournament training camp. Nakamura is set to take part in the men's section of the event.