Why did Humpy Koneru withdraw?

@tpr said ^

A similar event was Radjabov not playing in 2000 as he perceived the risk of COVID.

Impressive.

Typo corrected 2020

@tpr said ^

Thank you for offering some specific possibilities on what the danger could be. I have looked into whether they pose a threat.

"There is no danger to Cyprus at the moment"

• The United States use the British base of Akrotiri on Cyprus to attack Iran.

This is false. The United States doesn't use the British base on Cyprus to attack Iran.

"Speaking before Parliament, UK Deputy Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty stated unequivocally that British sovereign base areas on the Mediterranean island, including RAF Akrotiri, were not used by US bombers to launch attacks on Iranian territory. The statement comes amid intensifying scrutiny over Western military coordination following the initial strikes that ignited the war triggered by Israel’s attack on Iran." - 17th March

https://easternherald.com/2026/03/17/israel-attacks-iran-uk-cyprus-not-used-us-strikes/

Britain only accepted a request by US to use its military bases for “defensive” strikes against Iran. But they never actually used the base to attack Iran. After backlash from the Cyprus government after the drone attack, the base will not be used against Iran.

Government spokesperson for Cyprus, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, told reporters on Monday: “This is something that we must say we view with dissatisfaction... There was no clear clarification that the British bases in Cyprus would under no circumstances be used for any purpose other than humanitarian reasons in Sunday’s statement by the UK prime minister.”

Britain said on Sunday that it had accepted a US request to use its military bases for “defensive” strikes against Iran, a day after the launch of a US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which triggered Iranian retaliation. Sir Keir Starmer later said the UK’s bases on Cyprus were not being used by US bombers.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cyprus-raf-uk-base-drone-attack-iran-akrotiri-b2930805.html

Britain said its Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus would not be involved in its defensive agreement with the United States to use UK bases, after a call on ‌Saturday between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-says-its-bases-cyprus-will-not-be-used-offensive-operations-cypriot-2026-03-21/

So the base is not being used to attack Iran.

Iran already retaliated with a drone towards Cyprus, but it was intercepted.

Well it's not confirmed to be Iran. It is said to be 'likely' Hezbollah.

"Senior Cypriot officials say the attack was carried out by an Iranian Shahed drone, most likely fired by Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah from Lebanon, although the source of the strike remains unconfirmed."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/cyprus-raf-uk-base-drone-attack-iran-akrotiri-b2930805.html

March 1st: Drone hits British military base in Akrotiri, Cyprus. Two later drones are intercepted.
March 4th: Two more drones heading toward Cyprus are intercepted (that were in Lebanese airspace).

Sutovsky continued: “Of course, there was some alarming news like 10 days ago or something like that. Since then, the situation seems to be rather quiet, but we are not just, you know, relying on the assumption that nothing will happen. We monitor and we are in touch also with government officials.”

“We plan for scenarios, no matter how unlikely they are. It is our firm belief that the current situation does not provide any grounds or any reasonable reasons to actually postpone or to remove the event from Cyprus.”"

tpr: Apart from that an airplane from India to Cyprus has to fly over war zones.

Actually an airplane from India to Cyprus can go to Europe and then go to Cyprus.

Emil Sutovsky discussed this in a Chessbase India interview:

"Well, the major uncertainty was and is about some flights which are coming from Middle East and let's say Chinese and Indian players they are impacted in one way or another because most of them flew via some hubs like like Dubai or Doha which currently is unclear whether they would they would continue but there are other ways.

I mean there is a flights from basically every European destination and players can fly to London or to fly to Vienna or to Frankfurt and from then to continue to Cyprus with a direct flight. That's one thing of course, FIDE offered its help and of course we cover all the expenses related to that. These these are main uncertainties but they are easy to tackle and they impact only let's say five or six players but also it is not something that immediately impacts the event itself it's only about the logistics of arrival.

To sum up: The UK base at Cyprus is not being used to attack Iran and has never attacked Iran in the past and there is a clear option to fly to Europe and then to Cyprus.

This is a mini-essay ;)

Well it's not confirmed to be Iran. It is said to be 'likely' Hezbollah.

I doubt this difference would make me feel safer.

Actually an airplane from India to Cyprus can go to Europe and then go to Cyprus.

Would be kind of hard to go to Cyprus without going to Europe.

@mkubecek

Sure, it sounds much better than "It's a serious problem but relocating or rescheduling the event would cost us a lot of money so we'll go on and hope nothing bad happens."

You didn't respond to my question earlier: What is your justification for saying that it is a 'serious problem'?

Actually an airplane from India to Cyprus can go to Europe and then go to Cyprus.

Would be kind of hard to go to Cyprus without going to Europe.

As Emil Sutovsky said:

I mean there is a flights from basically every European destination and players can fly to London or to fly to Vienna or to Frankfurt and from then to continue to Cyprus with a direct flight.

@RuyLopez1000 said ^

You didn't respond to my question earlier: What is your justification for saying that it is a 'serious problem'?

The justification is obvious and even you know well what it is. But you decided to rely 100% on what Emil Sutovsky says so there is no point saying anything else.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, March 14th, Chessbase India Interview, Indian Express
Sutovsky continued:
Emil Sutovsky discussed this in a Chessbase India interview:
As Emil Sutovsky said:

That's four Emil Sutovsky quotes per four your comments in this topic. Impressive...

All it takes is two ...
Remember how Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi sabotaged the world blitz championship?
If several candidates grouped together and announced their withdrawal, FIDE would have to postpone or move the event. There's a proposal by Wadim Rosenstein to host in Germany.
Unlikely as chess players are known to be egotistical and self centered. FIDE has a Russian president and an Israeli CEO, countries responsible for the biggest wars at the moment, and they're unlikely to listen either.

@mkubecek said ^

You didn't respond to my question earlier: What is your justification for saying that it is a 'serious problem'?

The justification is obvious and even you know well what it is. But you decided to rely 100% on what Emil Sutovsky says so there is no point saying anything else.

I already responded to @tpr 's concerns. I do not see a reason why the Candidates shouldn't be held in Cyprus.

The UK base at Cyprus is not being used to attack Iran, has never attacked Iran in the past and there is a clear option to fly to European countries (London, Frankfurt and Vienna) and then to Cyprus. That avoids hubs at Dubai or Doha.

FIDE and the Cyprus government agree there is no current threat.

FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky, March 14th, Chessbase India Interview, Indian Express
Sutovsky continued:
Emil Sutovsky discussed this in a Chessbase India interview:
As Emil Sutovsky said:

That's four Emil Sutovsky quotes per four your comments in this topic. Impressive...

Of course I will quote what Emil Sutovsky says, he's the one who communicates what FIDE is doing as the CEO.

I don't know why you are mocking me for stating what FIDE's position is.

@RuyLopez1000 said ^

FIDE and the Cyprus government agree there is no current threat.

That's the problem. Your position is "FIDE says there is no problem and that proves there is no problem." Whatever FIDE says is Truth Revealed so there is no point saying anything that contradicts FIDE statements (or Emil Sutovsky's).

I don't know why you are mocking me for stating what FIDE's position is.

I just find it funny that you effectively act as his proxy in this discussion.

@mkubecek said ^

FIDE and the Cyprus government agree there is no current threat.

That's the problem. Your position is "FIDE says there is no problem and that proves there is no problem." Whatever FIDE says is Truth Revealed so there is no point saying anything that contradicts FIDE statements (or Emil Sutovsky's).

The reason I agree with FIDE's assessment is because you haven't shown me anything that contradicts FIDE's assessment. FIDE is in contact with the Cyprus government and they work together on this. So if both parties are satisfied and there are no valid objections then I don't see why I shouldn't agree with FIDE. Especially since Cyprus government are aware of what's going on and have given the green light.

You still haven't explained what the 'serious problem' is.

The UK base at Cyprus is not being used to attack Iran, has never attacked Iran in the past and there is a clear option to fly to European countries (London, Frankfurt and Vienna) and then to Cyprus. That avoids hubs at Dubai or Doha.

I don't see anything that contradicts FIDE's assessment.

When I asked you what the problem was, you then dodged the question by saying that 'it's obvious'.

Why can't you give me a straight answer?

@tpr offered some objections and then I showed why they are not a problem.

I would like you to state your objections such as tpr has done instead of avoiding the question at every turn.