Players search for clubs
With only four days to go to the start of the Premier Division Chess League, some of the top players of the country are yet to find clubs as some of the big clubs have opted to form low-budget sides due to financial crisis.
IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar, IM Abu Sufian Shakil, FM Debaraj Chatterjee, FM Nasir Ahmed and FM Mohammad Javed are among the top players whose participation in the upcoming 10-team league hangs in the balance as three top outfit -- Biman, Destiny2000 and Air Destiny -- reportedly decided to form mediocre sides.
Biman is reportedly in trouble with its sports wing following allegation of misappropriation of fund while Destiny2000 and Air Destiny are in struggling to maintain its sports wing after the parent company's activities were frozen by the government.
“I never faced such problem before regarding finding clubs. This time I have talked with a couple of clubs but no assurance from any club yet,†said IM Sagar, who last season played for Destiny2000 and was reportedly not paid remuneration of six months.
IM Sagar, FM Javed, FM Debaraj, IM Medhi Hasan Parag and GM Reefat Bin Sattar also played for Destiny2000 last season while IM Shakil played for Biman.
Reefat is set to be a part of new outfit Duranta Rajshahi, which is also set to rope in GM Abdullah Al Rakib, GM Enamul Hossain Razib and FM Taibur Rahman. Duranta Rajshahi earned their right to play in the league after buying out premier division side Chittagong Chess Academy.
“The last few seasons had four to five title contenders, but this time it looks like the battle will be between two teams (Mohammed and Duranta Rajshahi) because Biman, Destiny2000 and Air Destiny are not forming strong sides,†said Sagar after playing his game of the ongoing national chess championship yesterday.
GM Niaz Murshed and GM Ziaur Rahman are set to be part of holders Mohammedan which is also bringing
two Gregorian Grandmasters to defend their title.
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