India, March 16 -- Koneru Humpy - one among three Indians in the eight-player field of the Women's Candidates - says she's unlikely to play the tournament scheduled in Cyprus later this month, given the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.

In an exclusive chat with HT, the two-time world rapid champion said: "It just doesn't make any sense. It's dangerous to travel to anywhere near West Asia at this point when there's so much tension and uncertainty. The war started around a fortnight ago, it's still ongoing and the tournament is less than two weeks away. I don't think any official body would dare host an event in the region at this point."

Cyprus was announced as the host of the Candidates tournament last November. Both the Open and Women's ...