The Tata Steel Masters chess tournament is buzzing with excitement, with Indian stars D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa leading the charge. Gukesh, the reigning world champion, shares the lead with Nodirbek Abdusattorov, while Praggnanandhaa's sister, Vaishali Rameshbabu, is also making waves in the tournament.

However, the tournament has been marred by controversy, particularly involving Nodirbek Yakubboev and Vaishali Rameshbabu. In Round 4 of the Challengers' Section, Yakubboev arrived late for his match against Vaishali and shockingly snubbed her handshake, which left her confused.

Despite the awkward start, Vaishali kept her cool and defeated Yakubboev with impressive tactics, exploiting his weak position. After the match, Yakubboev ignored her again, sparking criticism from fans and fellow players who accused him of being disrespectful, even labeling his actions as sexist and racist.

Following the incident, Yakubboev took to social media to explain his behaviour. He clarified that his refusal to shake hands with women was rooted in his Islamic beliefs, stating that he refrains from touching women due to religious reasons. He apologized to Vaishali, emphasizing that he had the utmost respect for her and her brother.

He also noted that he had communicated this to his opponent Irina Bulmaga, who had agreed to the gesture. Yakubboev further explained that he hadn't had the chance to inform Vaishali beforehand, leading to the awkward moment. 

Despite his explanation, his actions raised eyebrows, especially after he was seen fist-bumping Divya Deshmukh earlier in the tournament. The incident led to calls for consequences, with German Grandmaster Elisabeth Pahtz questioning why there were no repercussions for his behaviour.

Yakubboev, ranked World No. 67 with a FIDE rating of 2659, now faces public scrutiny, while Vaishali, currently ranked 16th in the women's classical world standings, continues to shine on the chessboard.