Wijk Aan Zee, Jan 31: Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev offered flowers, chocolate and a personal apology to Indian GM R Vaishali after causing quite a stir by refusing to shake hands with her before their game in the Tata Steel Chess Tournament here, citing "religious reasons".슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Yakubboev met Vaishali, who was accompanied by her younger brother GM R Praggnanandhaa and mother Nagalakshmi, on the sidelines of the ongoing event. The 23-year-old reiterated that he regrets the "awkward situation" that arose because of his actions.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Uzbekistan Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev Declines Hand-Shake With R Vaishali Due to Religious Reasons During Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025, Apologises Later (Watch Video).

"I am sorry (about) what happened," Yakubboev told Vaishali in a video that was shared online by 'ChessBase India'.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Vaishali accepted his apology and assured him that she did not want him to feel bad about what transpired.

"It's clearly understandable. I didn't take it that way, you don't have to feel bad," she responded.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Nonetheless, Yakubboev made it clear that he meant no disrespect.

Nodirbek Yakubboev Says Sorry to R Vaishali for Handshake Furore슬롯 머신 사이트 추천

"...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.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천In a video that went viral on social media earlier this week, Vaishali could be seen extending her hand before the start of a fourth-round contest against Yakubboev, who sat down without responding to it.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2025: D Gukesh Beats Leon Luke Mendonca To Jump Into Sole Lead.

Yakubboev, who became a GM in 2019, lost that match in the Challengers' section of the tournament, which is in its 87th edition. Yakubboev, a practising Muslim, posted a lengthy response on 'X' saying, he had all the respect for Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa but he "does not touch other women due to religious reasons."슬롯 머신 사이트 추천However, that claim was ridiculed when an old video of him shaking hands with another Indian player Divya Deshmukh cropped up online.

The Uzbek, while responding to it, stated that the exchange with Deshmukh was also wrong in his belief.

He drew criticism for his statements and after his personal apology to Vaishali, he also met Deshmukh with flowers and chocolate to express regret. A picture of that meeting was also shared by 'ChessBase India'. Yakubboev also had a brief conversation with Praggnanandhaa during his meeting with Vaishali, reiterating that he has immense respect for him too.슬롯 머신 사이트 추천All three players wished each other the best for their upcoming rounds in the event before Yakubboev folded his hands in a 'Namaste' to say goodbye.

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