Rakib, Hamid win titles

Kathmandu, March 27

Bangladeshi Grand Master Mollah Abdullah Al Rakib and Woman International Master Rani Hamid won the titles of the Asian Zonal 3.2 Chess Championship here today.

In the open category, Rakib defeated fellow Bangladeshi GM Enamul Hossain and accumulated eight points to win the trophy along with $1,500. He also earned berth in the World Cup Chess Championship to be held in Georgia in September.

Another Bangladeshi GM Ziaur Rahman beat Nepal’s Candidate Master Keshav Shrestha to finish second with 7.5 points, while GM Niaz Murshed, also from Bangladesh, played a draw with countryman Hasan Mehdi to come third with 6.5 points. Rahman got $1,000 and Mehdi received $500.

Nepal’s Himal Lama, Nabin Tandukar, Bhagawati Prasad Sharma, Milan Lama and Rajendra Kumar Prajuli earned titles of Candidate Master from the championship.

In women’s category, Hamid won the championship on head-to-head results after she was tied on eight points with WIM Shamima Akter, also from Bangladesh. Hamid defeated Nepal’s Matina Kusi, while Akter saw off Sabina Shrestha of Nepal in other match.

Bangladesh WFM Nazrana Khan beat Nepal’s Shanta Thapa and finished third with six points. Top three players received $1,000, $500 and $300 respectively. Bangladesh’s Sharmin Samiha Shimmi and Sri Lanka’s Saumy Zainab earned the Woman CM titles.

A total of 42 players from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the Maldives took part in the tournament. National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista handed over prizes to the winners.