It’s not often that a sport like chess is mired in religious controversies. But the ongoing the Tata Steel chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee in the Netherlands witnessed something remarkable.
Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev’s decision not to shake hands with Indian GM R. Vaishali sparked controversy at the event on Sunday. However, the Uzbek player later issued an apology, clarifying that his action was not intended to offend but was due to his ‘religious beliefs’.
A video shared by ChessBase India on their social media handles captured the moment before their fourth-round match, where Vaishali extended her hand for a handshake. Yakubboev, who is a Muslim and follows Islam, however, chose to sit down without reciprocating the gesture, leaving Vaishali momentarily uncomfortable.
WATCH Nodirbek Yakubboev refuse to shake hands with India’s R. Vaishali HERE…
A renowned Uzbek chess Grandmaster, Nodirbek, refused to shake hands with India’s Women’s Grandmaster Vaishali.
Does religion influence sports? However, he was seen shaking hands with other female players earlier. pic.twitter.com/fGR61wvwUP
— Ayushh (@ayushh_it_is) January 27, 2025
Yakubboev, 23, who achieved the GM title in 2019, lost the match and currently has three points after eight rounds in the Challengers’ section. As the video soon went viral on social media, Yakubboev took to ‘X’ to provide an explanation. He expressed deep respect for Vaishali and her younger brother, R. Praggnanandhaa, and stated that he refrains from physical contact with women for religious reasons.
“I want to clarify the situation that occurred during my game with Vaishali. With utmost respect for women and Indian chess players, I want everyone to know that I do not touch women due to my religious beliefs,” Yakubboev wrote, emphasizing his adherence to Islamic practices.
3) 2. What I did before (referring to the game with Divya in 2023 and cases like that) I consider it wrong for me.
3. I do what I need to do. I do not insist others not to shake hands with the opposite gender or for women to wear hijab or burqa. It is their business what to do.— Nodirbek Yakubboev (@NodirbekYakubb1) January 26, 2025
After defeating Yakubboev, Vaishali refrained from offering a handshake. She currently stands at four points after eight rounds, with five more games to go.
In his statement, Yakubboev further elaborated, “I respect Vaishali and her brother as top Indian chess players. If my actions caused any discomfort, I sincerely apologize. I would like to clarify a few things: Chess is not haram. I simply follow my religious principles but do not impose them on others. Whether someone chooses to shake hands or wear a hijab is their personal choice.”
To prevent similar misunderstandings, Yakubboev mentioned that ahead of his eighth-round game against Romania’s Irina Bulmaga, he informed her in advance about his beliefs. “Today (Sunday), I informed Irina Bulmaga beforehand, and she was understanding. However, the arbiters suggested I use a ‘Namaste’ gesture instead. Unfortunately, I couldn’t convey this to Vaishali and Divya before our games, leading to an awkward moment,” he explained.
Meanwhile, another Uzbek player, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, is competing in the ‘Open’ section of the tournament.
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