A major controversy arose between the ongoing Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025 in Vijk Aan G, Netherlands. A match of the fourth round of this tournament, Uzbekistan's Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakuboev and Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali came face to face. But before the start of this match, Nodirbek Yakuboev refused to handhek R Vaishali. This incident caught everyone's attention and Uzbekistani Chase Player was engulfed in controversies. Seeing the controversy growing, this player has clarified his move.

Why did the Muslim player not join the Indian women's player?

In fact, the match between 23 -year -old Yakuboev and 23 -year -old Vaishali was to begin in the Tata Steel Chess tournament. Before the start of the match, Vaishali extended his hand for the handshek towards Yakuboev. But Yakuboev did not respond and sat down for the match. After this incident, Uzbekistan's Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakuboev suffered a lot of criticism on social media. In such a situation, Yakuboev posted on social media and gave clarification and said that he had done so due to religious reasons.

Video for reference. pic.twitter.com/vv4watxb6o

- jesse February (@jesse_feb) January 26, 2025

Nodirbek Yakuboev apologizes

Nodirbek Yakuboev wrote on the social media platform X, 'I want to tell about the situation in the game with Vaishali. With full respect for women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons. I respect Vaishali and her brother as India's strongest chess players. If my behavior has hurt them, then I apologize.

Nodirbek Yakuboev further wrote, 'I do what I should do. I do not insist on not joining hands with people of opposite sex with others or wearing hijab or burqa from women. It is their job of what they should do. He further informed that he had already informed him to avoid a similar situation in the eighth round game against Romania's Irina Bulmaga. But in sports with Divya Deshmukh and Vaishali, I could not tell them about it before the game and a strange situation became.

2) I Respect Vaishali and Her Brother as the Strongest Chess Players in India. If I have offered her with my behavior, I apologize.
I have some additional explanations:
1. Chess is not haram.

- Nodirbek yakubboev (@nodirbekyakubb1) January 26, 2025

R Vaishali also did not get his hand

In this match, R Vaishali defeated Nodirbek Yakuboev and then did not even join hands with Uzbekistani player. Currently in the Challengers section, Nodirbek Yakuboev is at three points after eight rounds. At the same time, after eight rounds, the Indian player has four points and five rounds and remaining.