Watch: Uzbek GM Yakubboev says sorry to Vaishali for handshake furore with flowers and chocolates

Watch: Uzbek GM Yakubboev says sorry to Vaishali for handshake furore with flowers and chocolates

Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev offered flowers, chocolates, and a personal apology to Indian GM R Vaishali after refusing to shake hands before their game at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, citing “religious reasons.”

Yakubboev met Vaishali, accompanied by her younger brother, GM R Praggnanandhaa, and their mother, Nagalakshmi, on the tournament’s sidelines. The 23-year-old reiterated his regret over the “awkward situation” caused by his actions.

“I am sorry (about) what happened,” Yakubboev told Vaishali in a video shared online by ‘ChessBase India.’

Vaishali accepted his apology and reassured him that she did not want him to feel bad about the incident.

“It’s clearly understandable. I didn’t take it that way, you don’t have to feel bad,” she responded.

Nonetheless, Yakubboev made it clear that he meant no disrespect.

“…it was an awkward situation for both of us. I was in a hurry that day and really forgot. I want to wish good luck to both of you,” he said.

“You actually apologised, I clearly remember. You said sorry,” Vaishali said.

In a video that went viral on social media earlier this week, Vaishali extended her hand before the fourth-round match against Yakubboev, who sat down without responding.

Yakubboev, a GM since 2019, lost the game in the Challengers’ section of the tournament’s 87th edition.

A practising Muslim, he later posted a lengthy response on ‘X’, stating his respect for Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa but that he “does not touch other women due to religious reasons.” However, his claim was ridiculed when an old video surfaced of him shaking hands with another Indian player, Divya Deshmukh.