Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev Apologizes to Vaishali and Pragg for Handshake Incident at Tata Steel Chess Tournament

Days after the controversy surrounding Nodirbek Yakubboev’s refusal to shake Vaishali’s hand at the Tata Steel chess tournament, the Uzbekistan grandmaster took a step towards reconciliation by personally apologizing to Vaishali, her brother Praggnanandhaa, and their mother Nagalakshmi. Yakubboev went above and beyond by bringing flowers and chocolate to convey his deep regret for the incident that garnered widespread criticism.

A video of the apology, shared by ChessBase India on social media, captured the heartfelt moment where Yakubboev can be heard apologizing to Vaishali, who, along with her brother Pragg, reassured him that they did not take offense. Despite their forgiveness, Yakubboev continued to express his remorse, stating, “It was an awkward situation for both of us. I was in a hurry that day. It is a misunderstanding, I am sorry.”

In the video, Vaishali can be heard telling Yakubboev that she did not take the incident to heart and advised him to focus on the remaining games. The gesture of reconciliation and forgiveness between the players highlighted the sportsmanship and camaraderie within the chess community.

The handshake controversy in chess sparked a debate after Yakubboev cited religious reasons for not shaking Vaishali’s hand during their game at the Tata Steel tournament. Despite the initial tension, the meeting between Yakubboev and Vaishali symbolized a positive step towards understanding and moving past the incident.