The Asian Zonal Chess Championship 2021, a Hybrid Chess and also a Qualifying meet for the FIDE World Cup Chess 2021, began Tuesday afternoon at Crown hall of the Hotel Asia in the capital.
Dr. Benazir Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Inspector General of Bangladesh Police was virtually present to inaugurate the championship as the chief guest. Tarafder Md. Ruhul Amin, Managing Director of Saif Powertech Limited and Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation was virtually present as the special guest.
KM Shahidullah, Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation presided over the ceremony. Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, General Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Abundo Casto, Executive Director of Asian Chess Federation among others, were also present.
A total of 39 players, including 21 from Bangladesh, 2 from Maldives, 3 from Nepal, 10 from Pakistan and 3 players from Sri Lanka are participating in the nine round Swiss league system competition.
Bangladesh team featured Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman, Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Razib, International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman, International Master Mohammad Minhazuddin and International Master Abu Sufian Shakil.
In the first round game, GM Zia beat Mihir LAl Das, GM Razi beat Kusatha Niken of Nepal, IM Fahad beat Muhammad Ayoub, FM Subrota Biswas beat WFM Noshin Anjum, FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman beat CM Amarasinghe of Sri Lanka, Anata Choudhury beat Musawir Khan of Pakistan, FM Mehdi Hasan Parag beat Ehtesham Ul Haq of Pakistan, FM Khandaker Aminul Islam beat Prajapati Raj of Nepal, CM Tahsin Tajwar Zia beat Mahmood Nasir of Pakistan, CM Md Sharif Hossain beat Wadifa Ahmed, CM Manon Reja Neer beat Muhammad Haris Rezwan of Pakistan, CM Sohel Chowdhury beat Afzal Shahwani, CM Nayem Haque beat Muhammad Faisal Mughal of Pakistan and CM Mahtabuddin Ahmed beat Muneeb Yaqoob of Pakistan.
The champion of the event will have the opportunity to participate in the FIDE World Cup Chess '2021 in Sochi, Russia from July 10.
The winners of the competition will be awarded with a cash prize of US dollars 3,000 (US dollar three thousand)
The 2nd round games will be held on Wednesday from 3:30 pm at same venue.