FIDE responds to Hikaru Nakamura, reiterates 'Cyprus is safe' for Candidates: 'Contingency plans in place'

FIDE, the global governing body of chess, has once again tried to allay fears for those travelling to Cyprus for the upcoming Candidates tournament that kicks off Friday, March 28. The organisation insisted that Cyprus is safe for visitors and the body has contingency plans in readiness in case any extreme situation arises.

Cyprus will be hosting the Candidates from March 28 to April 16. The winner of the open section and women’s section will get to challenge their respective world champions for the classical titles. The highly prestigious tournament has been marred by security concerns due to the war in West Asia.

Indian veteran Koneru Humpy withdrew from the event citing security risks and even American Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura had raised an issue with the power outages in the island country.

More from Chess

FIDE rattled by Cyprus safety fears, rushes out FAQ to calm Candidates 2026 players: ‘There is no emergency...' Candidates 2026 competitor Anish Giri takes cheeky dig at Fide for 'finally' releasing FAQ on Cyprus security situation

FIDE responds to Nakamura

Nakamura's comments on social media platform X had further added to the worries regarding the tournament. However, FIDE has stated that the power conditions in Cyprus are good and power back-ups are available at the venue in case of emergency.

“Power shortages in Cyprus are very rare and typically short-lived. For example, a recent incident, which caused outages in some areas of Cyprus on March 13, lasted only several minutes before full restoration.

“In addition, the tournament venue – Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort – is fully equipped with backup power generators, ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply throughout the event,” it said.

FIDE reiterates that Cyprus is safe

Despite concerns from players, FIDE has been adamant to host the Candidates in Cyprus and it once again stated that the place is safe for visitors. Concerns had grown when in the early days of the conflict in West Asia, a military base at the island was struck by missiles.

“Cyprus is a safe country to travel. There is no emergency situation, and the country continues to operate normally,” FIDE stated. “As a precautionary measure, the hotel is equipped with its own shelter facilities. While such scenarios are purely theoretical, appropriate infrastructure is in place to ensure the safety of all participants and guests.”

“FIDE has contingency plans in place, as with any major international event. We remain ready to respond promptly to any changes in circumstances, with the safety and comfort of players, officials, media, and guests as the top priority,” it said.