While all Bangladeshi eyes, and mine also were focused on cricket, 134 chess players did not let the hartals deter them from playing in the Sheikh Moni Memorial International Rated Tournament in the new more spacious BCF hall. Predictably, grandmaster Ziaur Rahman won the event though facing a strong challenge in one round from a very respectable blind player. Women's GM Rani Hamid in her seventies still sharp and consistent registered a strong performance. I, the lone American in the event, was relieved to survive against my 9-year old future chess star opponent in one round. The youngest competitor was a boy aged 5 and a younger than teenage girl also participated. Three Nepali players fared quite well in the final rankings, and a couple of Indian players participated. This was a well-organised tournament.

Chess is a sport requiring neither size nor wealth, but only brain power. Hopefully, in Bangladesh, chess will receive due sponsorship and investment in order to nurture the budding talent so that Bangladesh can become a chess powerhouse.

Scott Elliott
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