Due to Corona Virus Covid-19, the organization of the Youth Championship in Dhaka last March 2020 and all other over-the-board chess competition were stopped in Bangladesh and all over the world. Finally, from this year 2021 the Bangladesh Chess Federation adopted a plan to organise an over-the-board chess competitions in compliance with the health rules of the Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
At left, Shafiqul Islam, BPM (Bar) and Brigadier General (Retd) Shahidullah Chowdhury.
To this end, the Mujib Year Invitational International Chess was held from 9 to 16 January 2021 under the auspices of Abul Khair Group. 44 invited players participated in the event including one Grand Master, 3 International Masters and 1 Woman International Master. The competition was inaugurated on January 9 by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam, BPM (Bar) as the chief guest. Brigadier General (Retd) Shahidullah Chowdhury, Executive Director of Abul Khair Group, was present as a special guest at the inaugural function. Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and President of FIDE Zone 3.2 spoke on the occasion presided over by KM Shahidullah, Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation.
At left, Zone 3.2 President Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, and KM Shahidullah.
GM Ziaur Rahman won the title with seven and a half points in nine games in the 9-round Swiss-League event.
GM Ziaur Rahman (right) vs. Anata Choudhury and IM Mohammad Minhaj Uddin vs. IM Fahad Rahman.
Anata Choudhury was runner-up with seven points and FM Mehdi Hasan Parag was third with six and a half points. IM Abu Sufian Shakil became fourth with six points and IM Mohammad Minhaj Uddin came fifth with same points. Nine players earned 5½ points each. Their positions are in tie-breaking: 6th-IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman, 7th-FM Sheikh Naser Ahmed, 8th-FM Subrata Biswas, 9th-Md. Shariatullah, 10th-CM Sohel Chowdhury, 11th-CM Tahsin Tajwar Zia, 12th-FM Mohammad Javed, 13th-CM Manon Reja Neer and 14th-Md. Masum Hossain. Among the women, Rani Hamid got four and a half points and became the first among the female players. Ahmed Walija, Nazrana Khan Eva, Kazi Jarin Tasnim and Noshin Anjum received special women’s awards.
The prize giving ceremony of the competition was held at the Utsab Hall, Ground Floor, Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden, which is a five star hotel in Dhaka city. Mr. Md. Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Youth & Sports, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was present as the Chief Guest and distributed prizes among the winners. Mr. Abdul Karim, ndc, Additional Secretary, Minister, Ministry of Youth & Sports, Government Republic of Bangladesh and Freedom fighter Brigadier General Shahidullah Chowdhury,ndc (Retd.) the Executive Director of Abul Khair Group were present as special guests. Mr. K M Shahidullah Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation presided over the ceremony. Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation & President, FIDE Zone-3.2 and Dr. Shoeb Reaz Alam, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Additional DIG of Bangladesh Police gave speeches. Mr. Gazi Shayiful Tarique, former General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Masudur Rahman Mallick Dipu, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation were present on the stage. The winners of the competition were awarded a total of four thousand three hundred US dollars.
After successfully completing the Invitational International Rating Chess, the Mujib Borso Marcel 2nd Division Chess League 2021 (photos above) was held from 20th to 28th January 2021 under the auspices of Bangladesh Chess Federation and sponsored by Walton Group. The 2nd Division Chess League this time with a huge response. A record number of 42 teams participated in the team chess event.
Earlier, the number of teams participating in the 2nd Division Chess League was 33. Shahnoor Khan Smiriti Sangsad won 16 points in 9 matches in this year’s Marcel 2nd Division Chess League held in 9 round Swiss League system. Sports Bangla got 15 points and became runners-up. Grassroots Sports Academy came third with 14 points and BD Chess in School became fourth with same points. Bangladesh Chess Arena (Green) came fifth with 12 points and Legend Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain Chess Team became sixth. Latif Travel Chess Club, Sylhet, Tangail Chess Club, Elegant International Chess Academy (Elite), Rangpur Chess Players Welfare Association, Arthur Yusupov Tanning Group and Bangladesh Police Prime Team secured seventh to twelfth position with 11 points each respectively.
F. M. Iqbal Bin Anowar
The Prize distribution ceremony of the event was held on 30th January, 2021 at Bangladesh Chess Federation hall-room. F. M. Iqbal Bin Anowar (Dawn) , Executive Director and Head of Games & Welfare of WALTON Group distributed prizes among winners as chief guest. IO Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and President, FIDE Zone 3.2 was present as special guest. K M Shahidullah Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation presided over the ceremony. Masudur Rahman Mallick Dipu, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Secretary Chess League Committee, International Arbiter Md Haroon Or Rashid, Jakir Ahmed, Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation, IO Mahmuda Hoque Chowdhury Moly, Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation, Mohammad Amir Ali Rana. General Secretary of Association of Chess Players of Bangladesh and Shakil Abdullah of Bangladesh Chess Arena gave speeches in the ceremony.
Bangladesh Chess Federation decided to continue over the board chess events. Already they announced schedule of the WALTON 1st Division Chess League-2021. It will be held from 25th February to 7th March, 2021.
K M Shahidullah Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation will preside over the ceremony. Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation, Dr. Shoeb Reaz Alam (at podim in photo above), Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and ADIG of Bangladesh Police gave speeches. Mr. Masudur Rahman Mallick Dipu, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation, Mr. Gazi Shayiful Tarique.