Criton Tornaritis Criticizes Koneru Humpy’s Withdrawal from Women’s Candidates Tournament Over Safety Concerns

Criton Tornaritis Criticizes Koneru Humpy’s Withdrawal from Women’s Candidates Over Safety Fears

Last Updated: March 25, 2026, 09:16 IST

In a heated exchange that has sent ripples through the chess community, Criton Tornaritis, president of the Cyprus Chess Federation (CCF), has publicly criticized Indian Grandmaster Koneru Humpy for her recent withdrawal from the Women’s Candidates Tournament. Humpy’s decision, citing safety concerns amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, has drawn sharp rebuke from Tornaritis, who labeled her actions as damaging to the sport.

Humpy, a prominent figure in chess, announced her withdrawal from the prestigious tournament, which is set to take place in Cyprus, expressing that the current situation made her feel unsafe. However, Tornaritis dismissed her concerns, questioning the validity of her fears in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter).

“As president of the Cyprus Chess Federation, I am sincerely disappointed by Koneru Humpy’s decision to withdraw, citing that Cyprus is ‘not safe’. The 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament is one of the largest and most important chess events in the world. This is simply wrong. Spreading unfounded concerns harms the sport and shows a lack of respect for the organizers and the players involved,” he stated.

Tornaritis Responds to Nakamura’s Concerns

Tornaritis did not stop at Humpy; he also took aim at American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, who had previously raised concerns about infrastructure issues in Cyprus. Nakamura had highlighted power outages in parts of the island, which he deemed a worrying sign ahead of the tournament.

In response, Tornaritis challenged Nakamura’s claims, stating, “I’m genuinely curious where you read that, because it certainly doesn’t reflect the reality in Cyprus. And just to be clear, there are no ‘electricity cuts across Cyprus’ in general. Perhaps there’s been some confusion with another country?”

Humpy Stands Firm on Her Decision

Despite the backlash, Humpy remains resolute in her decision. “After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances. This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it,” she stated.

Broader Concerns in the Region

Tornaritis’s comments come amid broader concerns regarding safety in Cyprus, as the WSOP Super Circuit Cyprus poker event was recently canceled due to similar uncertainties. This raises questions about the viability of hosting major international competitions in the region, further complicating the chess federation’s efforts to promote the tournament.

As the chess world watches closely, the fallout from this controversy may have lasting implications for the sport, particularly in how safety concerns are addressed in future events.