India, March 3 -- Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev successfully navigated potential controversy at the Prague Chess Festival 2025 by greeting his Indian opponent, Divya Deshmukh, with a respectful 'Namaste' gesture. In contrast to his previous experience at the Tata Masters, Nodirbek opted to avoid any risks at the outset of their third-round match.

Previously, Nodirbek had attracted criticism during his Round 4 game against Vaishali Rameshbabu in the Challengers' Section at Wijk aan Zee. He arrived late for the match and, upon his arrival, disregarded the customary handshake extended by her. Despite this, Vaishali emerged victorious, tactically outmaneuvering him while he neglected to protect his vulnerable king.

Following his defeat, he again overlooked her and exited the venue in an uncomfortable manner. This incident led to significant backlash on social media, with numerous fans and fellow chess Grandmasters condemning his actions. Many accused him of exhibiting behavior that was perceived as both racist and sexist.

In the aftermath, Yakubboev addressed the situation in a widely circulated video with ChessBase India, where he extended an apology to Vaishali and presented her with a bouquet of flowers. He further elaborated on his actions via a post on X, stating, "Dear chess friends, I wish to clarify the circumstances surrounding my game with Vaishali. I hold great respect for women and Indian chess players, and I want to convey that I refrain from physical contact with women for religious reasons. #chess #fide #islam @ChessbaseIndia @Uzchess."

He continued, "I have immense respect for Vaishali and her brother, who are among the strongest chess players in India. If my actions have caused her any offense, I sincerely apologize. Additionally, I would like to clarify: 1. Chess is not haram. 2. I now recognize that my previous actions (referring to the game with Divya in 2023 and similar instances) were inappropriate. 3. I act according to my beliefs and do not impose my views on others regarding handshakes with the opposite gender or the wearing of hijab or burqa; that is a personal choice."

Today, I informed Irina Bulmaga regarding the matter, and she expressed her agreement. However, upon my arrival at the playing hall, the arbiters advised me that I should at least perform a Namaste as a gesture. In my matches against Divya and Vaishali, I was unable to communicate this to them prior to the games, resulting in an uncomfortable situation, he remarked.
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