The Tata Steel Chess Tournament witnessed a moment of controversy when Uzbekistan’s Grandmaster (GM) Nodirbek Yakubboev refused to shake hands with Indian GM R Vaishali before their fourth-round match. A video capturing the incident, where Vaishali extended her hand only to be ignored by Yakubboev, quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussion.
Yakubboev later took to X (formerly Twitter), and explained his side of the story. He said his actions were guided by religious beliefs and not intended as a sign of disrespect. The 23-year-old Uzbek GM, who embraced the title in 2019, clarified that his faith prohibits physical contact with women outside his family. In his statement, Yakubboev expressed admiration for Vaishali and her younger brother, R Praggnanandhaa, calling them among India’s strongest chess players.
He added that his intention was never to offend and acknowledged the awkwardness of the situation. To prevent further misunderstanding, Yakubboev said that he had earlier informed Romanian player Irina Bulmaga about his beliefs ahead of their eighth-round game and that she understood. He also complied with tournament arbiters’ guidance to use a “Namaste” gesture instead of a handshake, a practice he plans to follow moving forward.
Vaishali, visibly unsettled by the initial incident, did not offer a handshake after defeating Yakubboev. She currently stands at four points after eight rounds, while Yakubboev has three points in the Challengers’ section.
In his explanation, Yakubboev emphasised that while his faith shapes his personal conduct, he does not impose these beliefs on others. He reiterated his respect for players of all backgrounds and expressed regret if his actions caused offence.
