New Delhi, March 23 – Indian chess great Koneru Humpy defended her decision to withdraw from the Candidates tournament in Cyprus later this month, saying it's impossible to play peacefully while surrounded by warships, while also asserting that she is "not scared" of penalties and is not playing for monetary benefits.
Humpy, the two-time World Rapid champion and one of four Indians set to compete in the Candidates in Cyprus from March 28, withdrew citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Gulf conflict, given the island's proximity to the volatile region.
Earlier this month, a drone strike on a UK base heightened fears in the region, prompting Humpy to withdraw. She has since been replaced by Ukrainian Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk.
“It’s impossible to play when you're surrounded by warships that are guarding the island (Cyprus). If I, as a foreigner and a woman, have to travel to such an important tournament, how can I play peacefully?” Humpy told
With her late withdrawal, Humpy is the only one among the 16 contestants – eight in the Open and eight in the women's section – to withdraw, and while there could be a hefty financial penalty, she said she is not scared.
“See, that’s the point. That’s why (international chess federation FIDE) keeps these rules (penalties) so that players won't speak out against the situation. No, I'm not scared. I'm not playing just for money or monetary benefits. I just enjoy the sport,” Humpy said, adding that she had put in three months of strenuous preparation for the event, even being unable to spend quality time with her daughter.
“In the past three months, I have only been working on this tournament. I haven’t even been able to spend quality time with my daughter. So, if I’m withdrawing from the tournament, it’s not fair for me to miss such an important event. I’m losing a lot of things.”
She said the event could have been postponed by a month or held in another location without making a significant difference.
“They could host the tournament anywhere in the world. Or, if they were particular about holding it in Cyprus, they could have waited for the situation to calm down. They could have waited for another month. The tensions would have eased, and there would have been no hazards,” said the veteran, who qualified for the Candidates after finishing second in the Women’s World Cup last year.
On whether she spoke to Viswanathan Anand, vice-president of FIDE, in this regard, Humpy said a conversation did take place but did not disclose the details.
“Of course, some things were discussed, but I don’t want to talk about anyone else.”
Humpy said she had the full support of her family in her decision.
“Lebanon and Israel are very close to the island – it’s hardly a 20-minute flight from Lebanon. There was even confirmation of a drone coming down on a UK base. The Cyprus president himself, in a recent discussion with the European Union, expressed concerns about the UK base on the island.
“So, if the president himself is voicing concern at the European Union, what’s wrong for a player like me, from a foreign land and a woman, to be apprehensive about travelling to the island?”
Humpy said that just because 15 players are competing and she alone has withdrawn, doesn't mean the organizers are right in going ahead with the event.
“Of course, people can question. Like, 15 players are ready to play, but you're pointing out. But that doesn't mean that if everyone is playing, what the organizers are doing is right. The event might even go smoothly. Nobody knows. But the point is, it wasn’t necessary in such circumstances… like it’s clear that the US and UK have issued a level 3 (advisory).
“…'Jammu & Kashmir' is also level 3. They could also host (the event) in Jammu. What’s wrong in that? You are saying we have a beautiful resort, like the best in the place. Of course, in India, we have several places like that (Cyprus). But that itself isn’t sufficient to play this tournament. You should have a pleasant atmosphere."
Humpy said she had not spoken to fellow Indians R Praggnanandhaa in the Open section and R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh in the women's section.
“I don’t want to talk about anyone else. It’s their wish. Everybody has their own interests and concerns. So, I don’t want to talk about anyone else. It’s my choice and my opinion. And I feel absolutely right.
“It’s like if I’m going and playing there, it’s basically like I’m encouraging an organizer to keep a tournament in such a surrounding. They didn’t take any advice. When this war has taken place, when these incidents happened, they could have openly asked all the 16 participants about their willingness,” she said.
"No need to divide and rule without knowing each other's intention. Whoever independently asked (the organisers), (they said) 'we were answering them. We are monitoring on a day-to-day basis'."
