Who will replace Koneru Humpy at FIDE Women's Candidates 2026?

Humpy opted out of the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament due to safety concerns.

Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk has officially replaced India’s Koneru Humpy at the FIDE Women’s Candidates 2026. The Indian grandmaster announced her withdrawal from the tournament via a social media post on Sunday.

She started by saying that she has decided to withdraw from the tournament due to safety concerns. The safety concern was raised due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, as the host nation, Cyprus, could also potentially be affected.

Also Read: Koneru Humpy withdraws from FIDE Women’s Candidates tournament over safety concerns

Koneru wrote on social media, “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.”

Nevertheless, with Humpy Koneru’s withdrawal from the tournament, her spot has been given to Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk, who was the next, yet unqualified, player of the ‘FIDE Women’s Events 2024-25’.

Muzychuk, a former Women’s World Rapid champion, has also won the Women’s World Blitz tournament twice, in 2014 and 2016. Muzychuk is also one of the very few female grandmasters to have reached the 2600 mark. She reached her peak rating in July 2012, which was 2606.

Since then, she has not been able to match that same level of prowess; however, she has remained consistent in her performances. Anna Muzychuk’s current FIDE rating is 2522.

The International Chess Federation wrote on social media, “In accordance with the tournament regulations, her place was offered to the next highest finisher in the Women’s Events Series 2024–25 who has not yet secured qualification. As a result, Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine) will join the tournament as her replacement.”

With Humpy Koneru’s withdrawal, there are two Indian female candidates remaining in the eight-player women’s tournament. The likes of Divya Deshmukh and R. Vaishali will play under the tricolour banner.

The other five candidates in the tournament include Russia’s Aleksandra Goryachkina & Kateryna Lagno, Kazakhstan’s Bibisara Assaubayeva, and China’s Zhu Jiner & Tan Zhongyi. The winner will face reigning world champion Ju Wenjun.

Meanwhile, in the FIDE Men’s Candidates Tournament, R. Praggnanandhaa will be the only Indian. The winner of the tournament will face D Gukesh in the FIDE World Championship match. Both events are scheduled to take place from March 28 to April 16, as they will be held simultaneously.

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