As the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament progresses, the spotlight has predominantly been on D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa. D Gukesh, the current world champion, shares the lead with Nodirbek Abdusattorov and R Praggnanandhaa.

The absence of prominent players such as Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, and Hans Niemann has left fans feeling disappointed. Additionally, the tournament has encountered controversy, particularly involving Nodirbek Yakubboev and Praggnanandhaa's sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu.

In Round 4 of the Challengers’ Section, both players faced off, and the match commenced with a contentious incident. The Uzbek grandmaster arrived late for his game against Vaishali and, upon his arrival, disregarded her, failing to offer the customary handshake. Vaishali's reaction was one of complete bewilderment, yet she ultimately emerged victorious.

She performed exceptionally well and strategically outmanoeuvred Yakubboev, who neglected to safeguard his vulnerable king. Following his loss, he once again disregarded Vaishali and departed. In the aftermath of the match, Yakubboev faced backlash from fans and fellow players, who condemned him and accused him of exhibiting sexist and racist behaviour.

Nodirbek Yakubboev's apology to Vaishali Rameshbabu

Nodirbek addressed the situation on X, clarifying his actions and attributing them to his Islamic beliefs. He stated, "Esteemed chess colleagues, I wish to elucidate the circumstances surrounding my game with Vaishali. With utmost respect for women and Indian chess players, I must convey that I refrain from physical contact with women for religious reasons. #chess #fide #islam @ChessbaseIndia @Uzchess."

He further expressed his respect for both Vaishali and her younger brother. Additionally, he asserted that "chess is not haram" and acknowledged that he had previously shaken hands with Divya Deshmukh in 2023, which he deemed inappropriate. He also mentioned that prior to his match against Irina Bulmaga, he had communicated his stance to her, and she had consented. Furthermore, he claimed that the arbiters had encouraged him to perform a 'Namaste' gesture. He concluded by noting that he had not had the opportunity to inform Vaishali, resulting in an "awkward situation."

“2) I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behaviour, I apologize. I have some additional explanations: 1. Chess is not haram.

“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.

Today, I informed Irina Bulmaga about the situation, and she expressed her agreement. However, upon my arrival at the playing hall, the arbiters instructed me to perform at least a Namaste gesture as a sign of respect. In my matches against Divya and Vaishali, I was unable to communicate this beforehand, resulting in an uncomfortable situation, he remarked.

It is important to note that Nodirbek overlooked the fact that he had previously faced Divya in an earlier round of the ongoing tournament, where he was observed on a live broadcast exchanging a fist bump with her before their match.

In response to the incident, German grandmaster Elisabeth Pahtz commented, “Let us consider this question: Why does such behaviour go without any consequences for him? It should be addressed by both the organizer and the ethics commission unless he has legitimate religious or personal reasons for his refusal, which I sincerely doubt.”

Currently, Nodirbek holds the position of World No. 67, with a FIDE rating of 2659. Vaishali has been performing well recently, having ascended three spots to 16th place in the women's classical world rankings.

Read Also: D Gukesh's Ice-Cold Stare at Praggnanandhaa Turns to Laughter After Draw in Tata Steel Derby

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