“Respect his opinions and decisions” – Firstpost

The Grand Master Indian R Vaishali finally opened its doors on the controversy of the handshake involving the 23 -year -old chess player of Chennai and Uzbekistan Nodirbek Yakubboev. Vaishali said she knew Ouzbek GM Nodirbek Yakubboev for a long time and that he is a “nice person”.

The refusal of Nodirbek Yakuboev to shake hands with Vauli during the match Tata Steel Chess 2025 The match of Round 4 exploded in a massive controversy during the last week of January when the legendary chess players criticized the GM Uzebek for its actions.

Nodirbek Yakubboev, who gave religion as the reason for his refusal of a handshake with a chess player, was also seen while stretching excuses in person in Vaishali at Wijk Aan Zee, in the Netherlands, where The tournament took place.

Vaishali: “I also respect the views and decisions of Nodirbek Yakubboev”

Responding to the incident that made snowball in a massive controversy on social networks, Vaishali said that she had not found the act of refusing a handshake as “disrespective” because she felt Nodirbek Yakubboev had Maybe been sick.

“The handshake is part of the game, but I also respect its opinions and decisions. I know him, it is not as if he were a new person in the world of failures. I have known him for many years and told him. She is a very kind person. So, this refusal of handshake, I did not come to mind that I lacked or something. It didn’t even come to my mind. I thought he was perhaps sick or something like that. Because in cocovide, we had no hand handles. I thought there was perhaps a reason, “said Vaishali The Indian Express.

Vishali had continued to beat Nodirbek Yakubev during the Round 4 match, but it took a while before the incident video became viral on social networks. Vaishali, who is also the older sister of GM R Praggnanandhaa, said that the handshake controversy had no impact on her game because she was focused on the best.

“This incident did not affect me. I did not support myself on this subject. Once the game is, I focused on the game. There is nothing else to think. This happened in the 4th game. Much later in the tournament, everything exploded. I didn’t even know what was going on on social networks. It was not until later that I learned. It was a strong tournament. I was just focused on the tournament and the game, ”added Vaishali.

Vaishali finally finished ninth in the field of 14 players and failed to qualify for the Masters 2026 section.