The legendary Grand-Master chess Susan Polgar criticized Nodirbek Yakubboev for refusing to shake the hand of R Vaishali during the TATA 2025 steel chess tournament in the Netherlands. She suggested that Nodirbek should have informed his decision in advance and also shared an old image where he shared the hand of Divya Deshmukh.
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The great Hungarian-American chess master Susan Polgar struck the Nodirbek Yakubev in Uzbekistan after refusing to shake hands with the GM R Vaishali Indian during the Tata steel chess tournament in the course of 2025 in the Netherlands the week last.
Nodirbek said he had refused a handshake with Vaishali for “religious reasons”.
“I respect Vaishali and his brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I offended it with my behavior, I apologize, “said Nodirbek on social networks.
“What is the difference”?
However, Susan shared a photo on “X” where Nodirbek could be seen shaking Divya Deshmukh from India at the 29th Abu Dhabi International Festival in 2023. “What is the difference?” Asked the legendary chess player while marking the official handful of Chessbase India.
What is the difference? 🫣 @Chessbaseindia pic.twitter.com/mj2f6atqgc
– Susan Polgar (@Susanpolgar) January 28, 2025
She also explained her opinion on the incident, adding that Nodirek could have informed the officials or even the players before her decision not to shake hands. “This is my opinion: I have less problem with the religious excuse. Others may disagree.
“But, he (Nodirbek Yakubev) could have informed the organizers, the chief referee and / or his opponents in advance. It is not an open Swiss event. It is a prestigious invitation when he knew in advance that he would face 4 opponents. If he wanted an exception, be proactive. Otherwise, he should expect criticism, “she added.
This is my opinion: I have less problem with the religious excuse. Others may disagree. But, he could have informed the organizers, the chief referee and / or his female opponents in advance. It is not an open Swiss event. This is a prestigious invitation when he knew it …
– Susan Polgar (@Susanpolgar) January 28, 2025
Nodirbek on the reasons for which he did not shake hands
A few days ago, Nodirbek explained why he had not shook the hand of Vauli and apologized to the 23 -year -old. “Dear chess friends, I want to explain the situation that occurred in the game with Vaishali. With all the respect due to women and players of Indian chess, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons, “he wrote on” X “.
Explaining why he shook his hand with players in the past and not now, Nodirbek said: “I have some additional explanations: 1. The failures are not haram. 2. What I did before (referring to the game against Divya in 2023), I consider that it deceives me. I do what I have to do. I do not insist for others not to shake hands with the opposite sex or so that women wear hijab or burqa. This is their business what to do.
“Today, I spoke to Irina Bulmaga. She accepted it. But when I arrived in the game room, the referees told me that I had to at least do namaste like a gesture. In the games with Divya and Vaishali, I couldn’t tell them about it before the match and there was a delicate situation, “he concluded.
After nine laps of the Tata Steel chess tournament, Vaishali is eighth place with five points in the Challengers section. Nodirbek is in 10th place with 4.5 points while Divya, who won only two points, is in 13th place in the classification of 14 players.
