First Saarc Chess: Zia, Razib off to winning start

Published at 03:58 pm November 25th, 2019

Benzair Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Berik Balgabaev, adviser of World Chess Federation inaugurated the Saarc Chess Championship Monday BCF

A total of 87 players, including two grandmasters, six International Masters from Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh, are participating in open section

Bangladesh Grandmasters Ziaur Rahman and Enamul Hossain Razib were off to a winning start, as the inaugural edition of the SAARC Chess Championships 2019 got underway at the Fars Hotel & Resorts in Dhaka Monday.

A total of 87 players, including two grandmasters, six International Masters from Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and hosts Bangladesh, are participating in open section, while 22 players including two women’s International Masters are participating in women’s section.

Zia beat FIDE Master Saif Uddin Lavlu while Razib defeated Krishna Thapa of Nepal. Bangladesh IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman beat Mukitul Islam Ripon, FM Mohammed Abdul Malek beat Khandokar Nazre Mowla, and FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman beat Mezanur Rahman in the other opening round matches.

The first ever Saarc Chess Championship Men’s and Women’s Open will get underway Monday at FARS Hotel & Resorts and will run till December 3.https://t.co/ijSSMNSPMB #CHESS #BANGLADESH #BANGLADESHCHESS #BCF #CHESSFEDERATION #BANGLADESHFEDERATION #BANGLADESHCHESSFEDERATION #SAARC
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) November 23, 2019

Benzair Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Director General of RAB, inaugurated the event as chief guest while Berik Balgabaev, adviser of FIDE (World Chess Federation) president was present as special guest.

The tournament is sponsored by Russian state corporation Rosatom and co-sponsored by Saif Powertec Limited, Rupayan Group and Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited.