Chess legend Susan Polgar reacts on Nodirbek Yakubboev’s handshake snub of Vaishali

Chess legend Susan Polgar has slammed Nodirbek Yakubboev for the incident at the ongoing Tata Steel chess tournament where the Uzbek grandmaster refused to shake hands with India’s Vaishali Rameshbabu citing “religious reasons”.
A clip of the incident shows Vaishali extending her hand across to Nodirbek Yakubboev before their round 4 match at the Tata Steel chess tournament at Wijk aan Zee and Yakubboev refusing it. Vaishali had defeated him in that game.
Polgar gave her opinion on the incident after posting a photo of Nodirbek Yakubboev shaking hands with India’s Divya Deshmukh at an event in 2023 and asking, “What’s the difference?”
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“This is my opinion: I have less of an issue with the religious excuse. Others may disagree. But, he (Nodirbek Yakubboev) could have informed the organizers, chief arbiter, and/or his female opponents in advance. This is NOT an Open Swiss event. This is a prestigious invitational when he knew in advance that he would face 4 female opponents. If he wanted an exception then be proactive. Otherwise, he has to expect criticism,” Polgar said.
After the incident had gone viral, Nodirbek Yakubboev had posted his defence and apologised to Vaishali.
“Dear chess friends, I want to explain the situation that happened in the game with Vaishali. With all due respect to women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons,” Nodirbek Yakubboev wrote on X.
“I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behavior, I apologize.”Story continues below this ad
He said: “I have some additional explanations: 1. Chess is not haram. 2. What I did before (referring to the game with Divya in 2023 and cases like that) I consider it wrong for me. I do what I need to do. I do not ins 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 told Irina Bulmaga about it. She agreed to it. But when I came to the playing hall, the arbiters told me that I should at least do Namaste as a gesture. In the games with Divya and Vaishali I couldn’t tell them about it before the game and there was an awkward situation.”
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