Chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar Criticizes Nodirbek Yakubboev for Refusing to Shake Hands with R Vaishali at Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Legendary chess grandmaster Susan Polgar has criticized Nodirbek Yakubboev for his refusal to shake hands with R Vaishali at the 2025 Tata Steel Chess tournament in the Netherlands. The Hungarian-American chess legend suggested that Nodirbek should have informed in advance about his decision and even shared an old picture where he shook hands with Divya Deshmukh.

Nodirbek had cited “religious reasons” for his refusal to shake hands with Vaishali, which sparked controversy during the prestigious tournament. In response, Susan Polgar shared a photo on social media showing Nodirbek shaking hands with Divya Deshmukh in a previous event and questioned the inconsistency in his actions.

Expressing her opinion on the incident, Susan emphasized that Nodirbek could have informed the organizers or his female opponents in advance about his decision. She highlighted that the Tata Steel Chess tournament is a prestigious invitational event where such gestures should have been communicated beforehand.

Nodirbek later explained his reasons for not shaking hands with Vaishali, stating that it was due to his religious beliefs. He clarified that while he respects women and Indian chess players, he follows certain personal practices for religious reasons. Despite shaking hands with female players in the past, Nodirbek mentioned that he now considers it wrong for himself and chooses to adhere to his beliefs.

The incident has sparked a debate within the chess community, with opinions divided on the matter. As the Tata Steel Chess tournament progresses, Vaishali is currently in eighth place, Nodirbek in 10th place, and Divya in 13th place in the standings. The controversy surrounding Nodirbek’s actions continues to be a topic of discussion among chess enthusiasts and players alike.