Chess team <i>sans</i> 3 GMs

The Bangladesh Chess Federation formed the national squad with two Grandmasters Niaz Murshed and Ziaur Rahman, two International Masters Abu Sufian Shakil and Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar and FIDE Master Debaraj Chatterjee -- keeping out Grandmasters Abdullah Al Rakib and Enamul Haque Rajib -- for the Word's City Chess Championship which gets underway in United Arab Emirates from December 21.
The squad has been formed in line with standings of the National Chess Championship which Rakib and Rajib skipped citing their fatigue as the reason following their involvement in two tournaments in India.
FM Debaraj has been included in the five-member squad after GM Reefat Bin Sattar, a third-place finisher in the national chess, pulled out of the squad citing personal reasons, which turned the national squad turned into a decimated one compared to the one comprising five GMs which finished 33rd in the Olympiad in September.
However, Rakib sees this as an opportunity for junior players to prove their worth and he himself is not disappointed not to be part of the national team.
“As I didn't take part in the national chess championship, junior players deserved their place in the national squad,” said Rakib adding that it is not mandatory to include all five GMs in the national squad.
Meanwhile, Rajib is currently playing in the Rose Valley Chess Championship in Kolkata.