The inauguration ceremony of the Bangabandhu Asian Zone-3.2 Chess Championships, Open and Women’s Championships, sponsored by Shah Cement and organised by Bangladesh Chess Federation was held 2nd May at Dilkusha Hall of Hotel Purbani International, in Dhaka.
The event is the qualifying stage for FIDE World Cup Chess-2023 and FIDE Women’s World Cup Chess-2023. A total of 56 players in the Open section and 22 players in the women’s division are participating in the 9-round Swiss-League format of zonal chess. Three thousand six hundred and two thousand four hundred US dollars will be awarded to the open category and women’s category. The open and women’s second round matches will start tomorrow (Wednesday) from 3-00 PM at the same venue
Dr. Benazir Ahmed, BPM (Bar), President of South Asian Chess Council (SACC) & President of Bangladesh Chess Federation inaugurated the event as chief guest. Heroic Freedom Fighter Brigadier General Shahidullah Chowdhury, ndc (Retd), Executive Director of Abul Khair Group & Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, President FIDE Zone-3.2 and General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation were present as special guests. K M Shahidullah, Vice-President of Bangladesh Chess Federation presided over the ceremony. Dr. Shoeb Reaz Alam, Addition D.I.G of Bangladesh Police and Joint-Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation gave speech and Masudur Rahman Mallick, Joint-Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation was present on the stage. All games started immediately after the opening ceremony at the same venue.
International master of Bangladesh Mohammad Fahad Rahman won against Md. Masum Hossain in open category, candidate master Naim Haque Sheikh Rashedul Hasan and Shafiq Ahmed Dr. Ratan defeated Kumar Pal. Grand Master Ziaur Rahman is playing with Candidate Master Sohail Chowdhury, Grand Master Niaz Morshed is playing with Fide Master Muhammad Suawe of Maldives and Grand Master Enamul Hossain is playing with Rajeev Zoar Haque Pradhan. In the women’s category, WFM Noshin Anjum is playing with Omnia Binte Lubaba along with WIM Rani Hamid playing with Abeysinghe Janandani of Sri Lanka.
In women’s 1st round play, top seeded WFM Tanima Parveen lost to Sri Lankan WCM Sanudula Dahamdi, Wadifa Ahmed defeated Sri Lanka’s Wijesuriya and WCM Jannatul Ferdous defeated Fatiha Eyenoon Dia.