Chess tournament still on hold

The Prime Bank Leonine International Rating Chess Championship, which was postponed on May 10 following protests from players, looks uncertain of a re-start. Manjur Hossain Jimmu, the general secretary of the Leonine Chess Club affirmed that they will host the meet by June 15, but admitted that he has yet to discuss the matter with the chess federation. Entry fees and prize money were the key issues behind the players' revolt that consequentially led to the postponement of the meet. Non-rated players had to pay Tk1,200 as entry fee in the Tk100,000 tournament. Where the entry fees go remains a mystery. Jimmy claimed that the federation, not his club, takes the money. Federation joint secretary Morsalin Ahmed, however, claims that the Leonine Chess Club received all the entry fees. Jimmu was furious over the issue. “It’s just a plot to destroy the image of the Leonine Chess Club, However we are very hopeful of reaching a conclusion.”