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The "Joytu Sheikh Hasina International Grandmasters Chess Tournament," organised by the Bangladesh Chess Federation on the occasion of the 75th birth anniversary of the prime minister will begin Sunday at 3pm in the capital.
Around 12 grandmasters, 16 international masters, three women international masters and 60 leading players from 10 different countries, including Bangladesh, are expected to compete in the nine-round Swiss League system competition.
Bangladeshi grandmasters Niaz Morshed, Ziaur Rahman, Reefat Bin Sattar, Mollah Abdullah Al Rakib, Enamul Hossain Rajib; international masters Abu Safian Shakil, Mohammad Minhaz Uddin, Mohammad Fahad Rahman; women international masters Rani Hamid and Sharmin Sultana Shirin and some selected rated players of the country have been invited to join the competition.
At Sheikh Hasina International Chess, $1,500 will be awarded in cash, the highest prize money for any chess competition held in Bangladesh.
Read: Asian School Chess: Bangladesh's Khusbu emerges top and unbeaten
The main prize will be $13,000 – $4,000 for champion, $2,500 runner-up, $1,500 for second runner-up; $1,000 each for fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth position holders.
Also read: Prizes of Sheikh Kamal Int'l Chess distributed
Special cash prize money of $2,000 will be awarded to Bangladeshi players.